MOSIR DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1944, Page 4

MOSIR DEFENCES

INNER RING REACHED BY RUSSIANS STRIKING INTO HEART OF PRIPET MARSHES TENSE FIGHTING IN PROGRESS. GERMANS BOMBED IN DUGOUTS & TRENCHES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Dav, 11.15’a.m.) LONDON, January 1,3. Russian forces advancing on Mosir are pushing through the heart of the Pripet Marshes. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Russians have reached the inner defence ring, between five and seven miles deep, around Mosir. Tense fighting is going on, with Russian planes bombing the Germans in their dugouts and trenches. GUERILLA VICTORY GERMAN COLUMNS BOUND FOR (SARNY. AMBUSHED & WIPED OUT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, January 13. The Stockholm “Dagens Nyheter’s” Berlin correspondent says military circles in Berlin admit that the Russians have smashed through the German lines in the Vitebsk area and are now fighting in the German rear, attacking with 26 divisions, north and south of Vitebsk. k The British United Press Moscow correspondent says Ukrainian guerillas, co-operating with General Vatutin’s men. were largely responsible for the capture of Sarny. The country between Olevsk and Rovno is among the wildest anywhere in Europe. It is composed of great forests, interspersed with almost roadless swamps—ideal for guerilla operations. When General Vatutin burst across the Polish border, the guerillas massed in the Rovno forests until two long columns of German infantry and tanks rolled eastwards, with the object of reinforcing the garrison of Sarny. The guerillas ambushed the enemy columns and launched a full-scale attack. The Germans were pinned down in one of the heaviest battles the guerillas have ever fought. The Germans tried to disengage, but the guerillas clung to them until regular Red Army units arrived. The enemy columns were wiped out and the aid the Sarny garrison was av/aiting never arrived. Red Army tanks, after smashing through to Sarny, continued along the road west of the town, which is parallel to the one on which the Germans are retiring. The Russian tank men poured a hail of fire into the German columns until they were wiped out. RED ARMY AIM UTTER DEFEAT OF ENEMY. GLOOMY NAZI ANTICIPATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, January 13. The clearly-stated aim of the Red Army is the total destruction of all German forces) In a message to soldiers obviously inspired by the Kremlin, the Moscow newspapers “Pravda” and “Red Star” say: “Your aim is the utter defeat of the enemy, the destruction or seizure cf all his material and the annihilation or capture of all his men. Our offensive operations in the Ukraine are developing on an ever-increasing scale. Successful offensive battles are going on over a huge area.” The panic note in official Nazi statements continues. General Dietmar to- , day gave another grave warning to the German people. He said: “At present we have only one aim in mind —to fight for time. Armageddon seems to be drawing to a climax. Once again the German front in the east is being subjected to another extremely grim trial. New and enormous Soviet offensives may be expected shortly.” SAVAGE FIGHTING EAST OF VINNITSA. RUSSIAN GUNS AGAINST GERMAN TANKS. (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. The Germans are still making frenzied counter-attacks east of Vinnitsa, but. are being forced back more and more northwards, where General Vatutin’s men are only 13 miles nortb-east of Shepetovka, which is the main gateway to South Poland. Moscow military commentators declare that this area is more important than Sarny. Reuter’s correspondent describes the savage fighting east of Vinnitsa as a battle of guns versus tanks. Marshal von Mannstein has mustered all available tanks in a determined effort to halt the Russians, but General Vatutin has assembled the powerful concentrations of artillery which won the final battle of the Kiev bulge at Jitomir. Fierce sea engagements are going on in the Kerch Straits, where storms have been raging for the past few days. The Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau states that the Red Army today penetrated German positions west of Mosir and breached the town’s defences at several points. The Red Army operating west of Mosir means that the town has been outflanked.

Tonight’s Soviet communique says troops of the White Russian Front, under General Rokossovsky, have developed their offensive and occupied more than 40 inhabited places, including Dudichi, ten miles north of Mosir. The Russians have closely approached the regional centre ’of White Russia, Mosir and the large railway junction of Klenkovichi. The Russians west and south-west of Sarny have captured several localities and a number of railway stations, including Tutovichi, ten miles west of Sarny. Also, west and south-west of Novograd Volynsk they I have captured over 60 places, includ-l

ing Korets, 40 miles of Rovno and also a railway station at Maidanvila. 13 miles north-east of Shepetovka. The Red Army west and south-west of Berdichev fought offensive battles and occupied several localities. East of Vinnitsa it repelled strong counter-at-tacks.