BIG AREA FREED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 271, 16 November 1943, Page 5

BIG AREA FREED

SOVIET GAINS SINCE KIEV Recd. 6 p.m. London, Nov. 14 Zhitomir fell to General Vatutin's First Ukrainian Army after fierce street fighting. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that Cossacks who opened the way to Zhitomir by overrunning Korostyshev swung around the enemy’s flank, forced their way into the town, and participated in street fighting. The Russians’ victorious drive from Kiev has liberated more than SUU centres and resulted in the reoccupation ot 30U0 square miles of the western Ukraine.

Commentators agree that the capture of Zhitomir is a major calamity for the Germans. Tne Sunday Express points out that with the taking of Znitomir the great trunk railway from Leningrad to Odessa is now cut at two points—Zhitomir ano Nevel.

The Germans now have no main lateral communications lett in Russia. Also, one ot the main arterial highways from Kiev to the Polish border run s through Zhitomir. Tne Sunaay Times says that the cutting ot the Black Sea Baltic railway is one ot the most strategically important achievements ot the Rea Army's winter campaign. A Russian supplementary communique states tnat large quantities of war material were captured at Zhitomir. The Russians, continuing their offensive, have captured Malin and Chermyaxhov. The enemy sulfered enormous losses of men ana material.

The Russians in the Fastova area continued to beat off enemy tank ano infantry counter-attacks. One Russian unit, tnrowing back the Germans, wiped out 800 men. in another sector Russian gunner.: and tank-ousters dispersed ana partly annihilated a German iniantry regiment and destroyed 26 tanks and dC ioaoed lorries.

The Germans counter-attackirig on the Keren Peninsula, were throvA back leaving 600 dead. The Red Army south of Ryechitsa made some headway and occupied several heavily-tortiiied strong-points, 'ihe Germans attempting to restore the situation were repulsed with great losses, 2000 officers and men oeing wiped out.