ADVANCE 50 MILES BEYOND KIEV

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22190, 9 November 1943, Page 3

ADVANCE 50 MILES BEYOND KIEV

CRIPPLING BLOW AT COMMUNICATIONS ENEMY HARD PRESSED—CASUALTIES AND PRISONERS LONDON, Nov. 8. Russian forces are still sweeping forward on a wide front in western Lkraine. They have advanced more than 50 miles from Kiev and have captured a place 10 miles beyond Fastov. In the battle for Kiev, a Moscow message says, 15,000 Germans were killed and 6000 prisoners were taken. Several German divisions were routed.

Powerful Red Army tank columns racing south-west of Kiev have struck a crippling blow at the communications of all the German armies in South Russia, said an earlier message. This brilliant stroke practically isolates from their chief supply centres all the German forces along the 400-mile front south of Fastov. The hard-pressed enemy troops in the Dnieper bend must depend for supplies on roundabout single-track railway routes.

According to the News Chronicle correspondent in Moscow this drive from Kiev is the most dangerous threat to the Germans since the Russian thrust into the Dnieper bend several weeks ago. The whole enemy force in South Russia, which is still very far from extricating itself, faces a new and greater danger.

The Russians north-west of Kiev have covered 20 of the 80 miles from Kiev to the Korosten junction, which is on the direct railway line to Warsaw.

German Desperation

The mounting wave of Russian men and armour threatens to overwhelm the German groups in the Kiev area in a greater break-through than at Melitopol. The Germans, realising that everything depends on slowing down the Russians, are throwing picked panzer units into the gaps in a bid to gain time. * The Red Army’s onward sweep is reminiscent of last week’s scenes on the Tauride Steppe. Russian scldiers are stacking up piles of abandoned armament and clearing the roads of German dead. The Germans’ confusion after the capture of Fastov is already evident. They are apparently relying on this railway as one of the principal routes for the reinforcement of Krivoi Rog. Front-line despatches make it clear that the Russians are maintaining their pressure from the Perseyslavl bridgehead in the Dnieper elbow, ready to strike a flanking blow at the right moment. Reports from other fronts show that the Red Army and Red Marines, closely supported by Stormoviks, are closing in on Kerch from north and south in face of stiff resistance. Nearing Polish Border The Russians are continuing their advance cn the White Russian front. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reporting on this front, says that General Yeremenko’s dual drive from Neval is pushing steadily across the half-frozen lakes and swamps. One spearhead, turning south-west in an outflanking movement behind VitebsK. is now 35 miles from the old Polish border. German sources admit Russian attacks Crom the Crimea northward to Neval.

The German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau says that the battles west of Neval are incomparably more violent than on the Kiev front. It adds: “The Latvian border is apparently the Russians’ primary objective in the drive to the Baltic.’*

Today’s German High Command communique says: “On the Perekop Isthmus strong Russian forces attacked and achieved minor local successes.

The Berlin radio admits that

. violent defensive fighting is going in the Kerch area, and the Paris W radio stated that Russians from ■ bridgeheads on the Kerch Peninsula B are intensifying their pressure and W launching non-stop attacks. V District Centres Captured Tonight’s Soviet communique says: Troops of the First Ukrainian Army continuing to develop the successiul offensive and have captured Makarov and Obukhovichi which are district centres in the Kiev region, also 60 inhabited localities. The Russians on the Kerch Peninsula repelled counter-attacks and continued operations for the extension of the bridgehead. West and south-west of Neval the Russians fought local engagements and improved their positions. A Soviet communique says: The Germans suffered huge losses during the Russian advance which resulted in the capture of Fastov. The Russians captured several loaded railway trains, large ammunition dumps, armv depots, war equipment, artillery, mortars, and machine-guns. A great number of prisoners were taken.