RAIN OF SHELLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25455, 9 February 1944, Page 3

RAIN OF SHELLS

THE KANEV POCKET GERMAN ARMY DWINDLING LONDON, Feb. 7. The German positions throughout the Dnieper area are rapidly collapsing says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. A Russian column striking southward threatens to cut off a third great German force west of NikopoL The Russians have also forced the German garrison at Krivoi Rog into a precarious position, and other Russian forces are making an advance towards Kherson. The German divisions trapped in the Kanev pocket are being split up by deep wedges and pounded by artillery. Infiltration by guerrillas, who are using harassing tactics, is also helping to undermine the resistance of the encircled formations. Vain German Attacks

The British United Press correspondent says the German army at Kanev Is dying under a never-ending rain of shells. Nearly 100,000 men are coun-ter-attacking repeatedly in vain attempts to break out of the ring of fire which Is relentlessly closing in against them.

Thousands of guns are already in action and mobile guns being rushed up from the rear are now taking up a position on the western edge where the Germans are counter-attacking desperately. This area is being turned into a seething cauldron. The earth and air are vibrating under the tremendous bombardment which is going on night and day. Torrents of shrieking shells are pouring down on the German remnants, grinding the enemy to powder. Nothing even approaching this holocaust has ever previously been seen on the Russian front, though many horrible sights have been witnessed since the outbreak of war. Surrender Ultimatum

General Koniev is reported to have sent a surrender ultimatum to the German forces at Shpola. Junkers transport planes are still flying toT the German area bringing in vital supplies and flying out important officers. A second battle is being continuously fought out in the air between Russian fighters and the lumbering German transport planes, of which a heavy toil is being taken. The Russians, further south, reached the right bank of the Dnieper west of Nikopol, and hold five German divisions in a grip which is apparently unbreakable.

On the third Ukrainian front the troops are taking a huge haul of booty. j Counted thus far are over 5000 cars and lorries and nearly 1000 guns. The Germans at Apostolovo alone abandoned 45 tanks, 130 guns, 15 mobile guns, 3000 cars and lorries, 14 railway engines, and many goods wagons. Commenting on the isolation of the Germans at Nikopol, the Daily Mail’s aviation correspondent says this may bring about one of the greatest disasters for Germany, which is relying on Nikopol for 60 per cent, of her total manganese supplies. Shortages will affect all branches of the fighting services.