NEW SOVIET DRIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1943, Page 3

NEW SOVIET DRIVE

AT NORTHERN END OF WHITE RUSSIAN ZONE

Deep Penetration of German Defences on Front of 50 Miles

FURIOUS FIGHTING ALSO IN WESTERN PART OF DNIEPER BEND RED ARMY CLOSING IN RELENTLESSLY ON VITAL ROAD JUNCTION LONDON, December 19. The Russians have officially confirmed that they are conducting an offensive south of Nevel. A communique states that the Red Army has pierced the German defences to a depth of 19 miles on a front 50 miles wide. In five days’ fighting they have captured 500 places. More than 20,000 Germans have been killed and three infantry divisions and a tank division routed. The Germans are still speaking about the big Red Army offensive at the northern end of the White Russian front, south and north-west of Nevel. The German reports speak of ceaseless assaults by powerful Russian tank forces, masses of infantry and great numbers of aircraft. Today’s communique from Hitler s headquarters states that fighting is particularly fierce northwest of Nevel. The Germans are making big efforts to hold up the Kea Army’s offensive in the western part of the Dnieper Bend. The immediate target of the Russian drive is the road junction of Kirovograd. . Now that the Germans have lost so many of their railway supply lines in this area, Kirovograd is of great importance to them. Just how important it is is to be seen in the strength of their counter-attacks. Big forces of tanks and infantry, with strong air support, have been thrown agginst the Russian spearhead, The Germans are pressing home the attacks with great determination, but they have been beaten back by the massed fire of Russian artillery and mortars. The Russians have cap-, tured more of the strongpoints covering Kirovograd.