MASSING FOR ATTACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24851, 24 March 1944, Page 3

MASSING FOR ATTACK

RUSSIANS' IN NORTH GERMAN MILITARY ESTIMATE (Reed. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON. March 23 "More than 1,000,000 men are reported to be massing for a now Soviet offensive in North Russia as Marshal Koniev's forces in the south continue their all-out drive for Rumania proper. A spokesman for the German High Command quoted by the Stockholm newspaper Dagens Nvheter says that more than 100 Russian divisions are concentrated on the northern front, where a new offensive is expected to begin any hour. A late*message says there is no confirmation from any Soviet sources of enemy reports that German positions in j White Russia are being attacked near Vitebsk and that other sectors up to the White Sea in the far north are also flaring into action. CRIMEA SITUATION • EVACUATION DIFFICULTIES " LONDON. March 22 Some 650 miles south-east of the furthest point west yet reached by the Russians lies says the British official wireless. The swiftness and depth of the Russian advance, particularly through south - western Ukraine,. focuses attention on the Crimea and prompts the question why the Germans as yot show no signs of abandoning it. Most probable among the reasons discussed is that they desire as long as possible to prevent the Russian Fleet from reoccupying the Crimean bases, particularly Sebastopol, and so operating in the northern Black Sea. At present the Russians must operate from Novorossisk and other bases on the Caucasian coast. Novorossisk is 240 miles from Sebastopol. The risks iri attempting evacuation by sea to Odessa —the Crimea is already cut off by land —must also be clear to the Germans. The seriousness of the threat from the air is shown by the recent striking success of the Russian Air Forca in sinking 11 ships of a Crimea-bound convoy, and Russian sub- - marines doubtless played a part. Were Odessa to. fall—a contingency far from unlikely in view of the Russian capture of Kherson and the near approach to Nikolnev —evacuation from the Crimea would have to be made direct to Rumania by way of Constanza or Sulina, 200 and* 160 miles respectively from Sebastopol. Such an operation would be a perilous undertaking.

fighting near lwow Red army forges ahead ' (Reed, n.lft p.m.) LONDON, March 2.'i A Russian supplementary communique says that south-west of" Dubno, in the Lwow sector. the enorny, reinforced *itk the 3G!st Infantry division from Denmark, counter - attacked several tones. All attacks were repelled and Russian troops, forging ahead, occupied Verba. Advance columns in Poland are yidening their front as they push toward Lwow, according to a late message. Enemy reports say the Russiann are BrodJ 6 °" ts k' rts ra '' wa . v t(nvn RUSSIAN AWARD New ZEALANDER'S medal ffiecd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. March 22 Included in the Russian awards to antish servicemen is that of the Army for Valour to Serjeant J. Denc r^p pu ' Zealand For ces. oerpennt Denver, after his escape ironi Greece, served with the Yugoslav ®rces and rose to command a brigade of Partisans. ♦ BRITAIN AND SPAIN LONDON. March 22 Negotiations with the Spanish Government have not yet reached any contusion, said tho Foreign Secretary, Mr. nthony Eden, in the House of Commons. "I think, however, I can say that Progress is being inndo at all events on f?toe issues, and I hope to bo in a posito report further."