SWEEP ACROSS FRONTIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25428, 8 January 1944, Page 5

SWEEP ACROSS FRONTIER

POWERFUL SOVIET FORCES BIG DRIVE FROM BERDICHEV (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. Powerful Russian forces are sweeping out from the Ukraine bulge across the 1939 Polish frontier. They made a rapid advance yesterday, and are now within 30 miles of Sarny, from which run two important railway lines, one back to the rear and the other up through the Pripet Marshes, where good roads are scarce. Further south General Vatutin has begun the big drive south-west towards the Bug River which was expected after the fall of Berdichev. Behind the line of the river runs the vital railway from Poland to the southern Dnieper front, and the Germans admit that the drive towards the river carries the greatest threat. The enemy is expected to defend the line of the river with all his resources. Vinnitsa, on the River Bug, is being steadily outflanked to the east by Soviet spearheads advancing from the Berdichev-Byelaya Tserkov line. General Vatutin’s column is pressing on rapidly from Berdichev over a broad front against the 1939 Polish border, says the British United Press. This column captured Novomiropoi, halfway between Berdichev and Shepetovka, and by

the capture of Zozov is now only 25 miles east-north-east of Vinnitsa. Other places captured by the Russians include the railway station of Lipovets, 25 miles east of Vinnitsa and 12 miles from the German escape railway leading from the Dnieper bend and Odessa to Poland. Agencies also specify the capture of Covno, on the railway from Berdichev to Brest Litovsk.