GERMAN ADMISSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 274, 19 November 1943, Page 5

GERMAN ADMISSION

RUSSIANS NOT FORCED BACK TO GREAT EXTENT

Recd. 12.2 a.m. London, Nov. 18. I An admission that von Mannstein’s [drive in the Zhitomir area has not forced back the Russians to any great extent was made by Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorius.

Berlin radio claims: “The vital Kiev-Zhitomir road has been reached at three points and several villages captured. All Russian attempts here to make further progress westwards have failed.”

The radio emphasises the bitterness of the Russian resistance.

Fierce tank battles are raging around the tip of the Russian wedge at Zhitomir, reports Reuter's Moscow correspondent. The Germans, who are being forced into a tight corner, flung masses of men and armour, scooped from all available sources, into a limited but powerful counter-offensive. The present fighting. where the Russians have been pushed back to some extent, is likely to have an important effect on the whole battle west of Kiev, since the Germans are losing tanks and troops which will undoubtedly be needed to meet the Inevitable powerful Russian recoil. Swiss correspondents in Berlin say, that, according to well-informed quarters, 50 per cent, of the entire German operative reserves, numbering roughly 18 divisions, were engaged m counter-attacks in the Zhitomir sector. One Berlin newspaper says:— “AU necessary preparations have been concluded to enable the Germans to regain the initiative.” A Berlin spokesman clearly indicated Kiev as the aim of the German counter-offensive. The Soviet supplementary communique states: “In the Zhitomir and Korostyshev regions the enemy concentrated considerable tank and infantry forces in a narrow’ sector and threw them into the battle regardless of losses. In one sector Soviet units destroyed more than 50 tanks and 30 armoured cars and killed 1500 Germans. In another sector we repelled seven fierce counter-attacks and knocked out 23. Towards the end of the day our units abandoned several : inhabited localities under pressure of I numerically superior enemy forces and consolidated themselves in new positions.

“In the Ryechitsa region, after capturing the village of Ozershchina, our units reached the Dnieper River north of Ryechitsa, thus cutting the enemy’s westward way of retreat from the Ryechitsa area. Soviet tanks broke into the western suburbs of Ryechitsa and are now fighting street engagements."