RED ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 January 1944, Page 4

RED ARMY

ON OFFENSIVE IN 14 AREAS ’according to german HIGH COMMAND. TALK OF EXTENDED RETREAT TO WEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, January 16. “The Red Army is on the offensive in 14 separate sectors of the Eastern front, with special vigour in the Leningrad area,” says a Berlin High Command communique. The “Svenska Dagbladet’s” Berlin correspondent says a German military official stated that the High Command has decided to retreat westward, but will maintain two flank positions near Leningrad and in the Crimea — from which to launch counter-attacks when the right moment arises. The new tactics meant lengthening the German line. The High Command did not fear this, because it has fresh troops ready. Enemy commentators continue to stress the gravity of the hew Russian offensives in the Leningrad area. A Berlin military spokesman, according to Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent, said the fate of the Baltic States was at stake. Russian attacks thus far were not comparable with the mass onslaughts on the southern front, but the final strategical objectives were obviously extremely important. The spokesman added: “We are convinced in Berlin that bloody battles between great masses of troops are impending on the Leningrad front. Our reconnaissances have shown, that a more violent attack is imminent at Oranienbaum. The Germans have often tried to liquidate this bridgehead but have never succeeded, because the Russians have continually brought up reinforcements.”

ENEMY LOSSES

IN MEN AND' MATE-RIAL.

IMPRESSIVE DETAILS GIVEN BY MOSCOW RADIO.

(Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, January 16. “Troops of the F : irst Ukrainian Army, from December 24 to January 13, killed 100,000 Germans, took prisoner 7000, destroyed 2205 tanks, 1174 guns, 625 mortars, 3173 machine-guns, 348 armoured cars and troop-carriers, 4685 lorries, two armoured trains, 27 supply dumps. 17 trains, 28 locomotives, 400 railway trucks, 40 mobile fuel tanks, and 3063 trucks filled with supplies,” says an official announcement from the Moscow radio. They also captured 315 tanks, 901 guns, 321 mortars, more than 2000 machine guns, 11,500 rifles and tommyguns, 157 armoured cars and troopcarriers, 3514 lorries., 47 tractors, 480 motor cycles, 20 locomotives, more than 8000 cars, three laden railway trains, three mobile fuel tanks, 230 supply dumps, more than !iODO supply trucks, 3GG2 horses and 40 radio stations.

MILLiON RUSSIANS MAKING READY FOR SWEEP TO BALTIC. MORE GERMAN ANTICIPATIONS. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, January 16? Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says the Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau (German-controlled) declared that an army of a million Russians is ready for a sweep to

the Baltic. Powerful Red Army forces are massed in the Volkhov sector, ready to go over' to the as-

sault. 1 The Russians have also concentrated a large number of troops over a narrow front north of Novgorod, it is added, and the Russians, simultaneously with their northern offensive, _ are preparing to smash the Vitebsk salient. The German news agency says the Russians, with strong tank forces, are continuing enveloping manoeuvres south-east of Vitebsk. The Red Army yesterday penetrated German defence zones at one narrow point, but it is claimed that the breach was effectively sealed. The British United Press Moscow] correspondent describes the Russians’ pursuit of the Germans west of Kalinkovichi as a battle of the wilderness and adds that the lightly-clad Germans are in a terrible plight. EJloody fighting is raging in virgin forests and dreary swamps, where the Russian cavalry and infantry, guided by the inhabitants of the marsh country, are cutting off and surrounding enemy groups. To add to the enemy’s miser-

ies l a cold snap has at last descended in the Pripet region, which enabled General Rokoscsovsky to bring up artillery and smash the Mosir-Kalinko-vichi line, enabling him tohpush round the retreating Germans, whose forces keep to the main roads, which are scarce.