BIG GERMAN FORCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 277, 23 November 1943, Page 5

BIG GERMAN FORCES

WEST OF KIEV SALIENT Recd. 6 p.m. Rugby, Nov. 21. Moscow messages say that the Germans have never before concentrated such forces of tanks, infantry, and aircraft for a counter-attack ae they have massed on the southern flank of the Russian salient west of Kiev. After the recapture of Zhitomir the enemy is concentrating on a blow from a powerful armoured fist of several panzer divisions against Korostyshev. The majority of German tanks daily knocked out along the entire front are the victims of Russian gunners in this narrow sector. Russian gun ambuscades on th? main roads leading to Cherkasi are taking heavy toll of the reserve, rushed up by the Germans. There is no indication yet that the Germans are making an attempt to withdraw substantial forces from the Gomel area despite the growing threat of encirclement there. The lifeline to the Germans grouped in 'Gomel has been reduced to a corridor to the north-wesi s'nee the extension of the Russian bridgehead over the Dnieper south and north ot the town. The Russians are reported to be already in control of the highway to Mogiev and to be attacking strongly points covering the railway to the Zhlobin area. Some idea of the German lesess in the Korostyshev area in the enemy’s counter-offensive are given in a supplementary Soviet communique. In one place alone Germans threw in two infantry regiments and 60 tanks. Soviet troops killed 800 men and knocked out 32 tank;. At another place the German, retreated leaving 200 dead and two selfpropelling guns disabled. In general, along the whole Russian front, German losses continue to be enormous.

In the Black Sea two enemy transports, totalling 4500 tons, two escorting cutters, and one self-propelled landing barge were sunk, and five self-propelled landing barges and one enemy transport heavily damaged.— 8.0.W.

GERMAN LOSSES MANY TANKSDESTROYED

Recd. II p.m. Rugby, Nov. 22. The Germans lost many tanka in unsuccessful attempt; to follow up their counter-stroke in the ZhitomlrKorostyshev area. Yesterday, according to the Soviet communique, three fierce tank attacks in quick succession in one place were me by artillery fire, with the result that the Germans were compelled to withdraw, leaving 38 disabled tanks on the battlefield. In another place 14 German tanks were destroyed. Meanwhile the Russians continued to advance in Ryechitsa toward Gomel and between Dnepropetrovsk and Nikopol, and made a new offensive along the Kremenchug-Krivoi Rog line, where they took eight fortified places.—8.0.W.