ENTRY OF POLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 5

ENTRY OF POLAND

NOTABLE MILESTONE

EVIDENCE OF CALAMITY FOR GERMANS Recd. 6 p.m. Rugby, Jan. 4. I The Russians are pushing beyond Olevsk and Novograd Volynsk and are reported to have crossed the line which for 19 years before the war s?parated Russia and Poland. The border has little military importance, being in open country. Nevertheless this historic point is a most notable milestone on the Russian advance and is expected to bring further home to the German people the catastrophe which their armies have suffered. This, says the Evening Standard, is lhe worst moment for Germany since her leaders had to turn their backs on the Volga. That was barely a year ago. Now they must look to the 'Dniester and the Polish rivers. Surely I here is the mightiest transformation -in military history, i Nor are General Vatutin’s armies likely to stop. TUey are moving westward on a 70-mfie front towards the next great north-south railway. On the northern flank they are 40 miles from Sarny Junction, and in the centre are 50 miles from the equally important junction of Rovno. On the southern flank the Russian.are 25 miles from Shepetoka. The southern edge of the great Russian westward drive is only a few miles from the Shepetovka-Berdichev railway. The Germans are still clinging desperately to Berdichev. Thirty miles south of Belaya Tserkov the Russians have made a further big advance to Pyatigori, which is only 25 miles from the west to east railway feeding the Smela-Kirovograd sector via Zhmerinka.

The Russians are taking full advantage of the comparative lightness of the German resistance and the fact that the Pripet marshes guard their right flank to drive westwards witn all speed, states a London military commentator. Von Mannstein, who, as yet, shows no sign of withdrawing from the Dnieper bend, is evidently retaining powerful cover for the Berdichev and Vinnitsa. Nevertheless, these places will probably fall within the next week. The fact that the Germans are still trying to retain ail their positions in the Dnieper bend strengthens the opinion that Mannstein contemplates mounting a powerful counter-attack, although his difficulties must have been greatly increased by the loss of such obvious advanced bases at Novograd Volynsk, Ovelsk and Baranovka. The capture of Novograd Volynsk is important because as most of the fighting in this area is on the roads and railways, the possession by the Russians of this large junction has given General Vatutin the choice by his greater mobility either to drive on westwards or to switch units to- | wards the south-west and to throw [greater weight against the BerdichevVinnitsa positions.—B.O.W. in no-mansland AREA OF RED ARMY DRIVE Recd. 7.10 p.m. London, Jan. 4. The region west of Olevsk, where General Vatutin’s army at present is pursuing the German rearguards, is a no-man's land, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Like many stretches of country along the Polish frontier, it is sparsely populated, almost roadless, and generally one of the most backward areas in the world. A major Russian attack is unlikely in this desolate country. The main Western Ukraine attack is likely to be carried out south-west of Novograd Volynsk, where General Vatutin’s forces will be able to take up positions on the high passable ground and use a series of fairly good roads, one of which is the highway to Rovno. The area north of Novograd Volynsk to Olevsk is very unfavourable for the movement of big forces. The swamps and forests in this area are almost completely without roads, and movements must be restricted to small units. Moscow radio’s military commentators. Colonel Vasilev, declared: “The Russian successes are a prelude to the decisive offensive of all Allied forces from east, south and west which will bring about the complete defeat of tne German Army.” Paris radios commentator Jean Paquis said: “The most gigantic offensive ever launched by Stalin is undoubtedly the right description of General Vatutin’s present operations. He is incessantly flinging more and more fuel into the furnace. Von Mannstein faces a million Red Army men and also one motorised division after another.” The German news agency commentator Von Hammer said* “Fresh 1 Russian detachments are being rushed !up to tear up the German southern | front. The great winter battle which the Russians began on December 24 I with 20 infantry divisions, 30 tank bri- ; gades. and the strongest possible use lof artillery, is raging with undimin- : ished ferocity.”

NEW SOVIET ATTACKS j Recd. 7 p.m. London. Jan. 4. j The German news agency's military correspondent says that strong Soviet I forces opened a new offensive on Sun day in the area west of Gomel and 1 cast of Rogachev. They were repel! 1 ’ everywhere except at on’ pn'nt, where they achieved n substantial local penetration, which was later liquidated. Heavy German counter-