SMYELA “FUNNEL”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25431, 12 January 1944, Page 3

SMYELA “FUNNEL”

GERMAN* FORCES IN: TRAP

TWIN RUSSIAN THRUSTS , LONDON, Jan. 10. The Germans in the Smyela "funnel,” who are midway between General Vatutin’s and General Koniev’s twin drives, are facing the threat of being trapped. The direction ot the Russian drive in the Vinnitsa region suggests that they intend to by-pass Vinnitsa and cut off the Odessa-Sarny railway, south of Vinnitsa. Russian tanks and guns are now south-west of Vinnitsa. All roads from the north-east and south-east to Vinnitsa have been severed. The Red Army also menaces the German, railway link through Taveitkovo-Smyela. It is within 10 miles of this railway at a point north of Uman. The Germans along the Dnieper at the apex of the funnel are clinging to their ground with great difficulty. If General Vatutin keeps up nis present rate of ddvance the Germans must attempt a fighting withdrawal. Their only alternative is encirclement. Heavy fighting is at present going on at the approaches to Shepetovka. The British United Press’s Moscow correspondent reports that the Germans between Smyela and Vinnitsa are falling back, harried by Russian cavalry patrols armed with tommy guns. These “ Red Devils,” as they are called, pave the way for the. tanKs and motorised units.

A gap of only 40 miles separates units of General Vatutin’s and General Koniev’s armies, which are driving to trap the Germans in the Smyela salient. General Koniev’s troops have captured Alexandrovka, a little over 20 miles south-east of Smyela. The Russians are rapidly pincering Jmerinka. All road comiflunications to the town from the north and the east and the south-east have been severed as the Russian armoured spearhead thrusts forward. This squeeze intensifies the pressure against the Germans caught between the Soviet hammer and anvil in the Smyela salient. A Free German broadcast over the Moscow radio to the German Army stated: “ Cease hostilities and come over to the National Committee of Free Germany. There may be 60 divisions still struggling in the Dnieper bend. How' many will struggle their way across the great Ukrainian steppes to the Rumanian frontier? These divisions are meeting the fate of Napoleon’s Grand Army. The Russian armies are moving to force a trap, aild the German armoured divisions and infantry are being cut to pieces by the Soviet armies.”