ENCIRCLING THE GERMANS

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22203, 24 November 1943, Page 3

ENCIRCLING THE GERMANS

RUSSIANS SETTING GOMEL TRAP ENEMY’S LAST ESCAPE RAILWAY CUT SWEEPS BY CAVALRY—WINTER HARDENS ROADS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 24, noon) LONDON, November 23. The encirclement of the Germans in the Gomel trap is almost completed, say Moscow despatches. Cavalry from general Rokossovsky’s White Russian army have crossed the Odessa — Leningrad railway between Jlobin and Mosir, cutting the Germans’ last escape railway to Jlobin. Gomel, which the Germans boasted was impregnable,’ is now in the rear of the Russian spearhead, and is under attack from the north and south. Cavalry sweep across the railway, which is one of the most vital points just east of the Pripet Marshes. The main Russian force is only five miles from the railway. Observers say that von Mannstein is held in the battle of the Kiev bulge, where for ten days he has tried to force a breakthrough. It is pointed out that the ground given up by the Russians was only ten to twenty miles in ten days, which from a strategic viewpoint is insignificant.

The Germans have switched their attacks westward and now are driving from the sector between Chemyakhov and Korostychev. They are still throwing in men and tanks, but the Russian lines are holding. The Germans, while claiming that some ground was gained in this sector, admit that they are meeting “stiffening resistance.” Allied correspondents report that the winter is slowly creeping south across the Ukrainian plains, hardening the roads, which have been soft with black mud. Harder roads will mean improved mobility for tanks and transport on both sides.

Germans Almost Cleared Out The Germans have been almost cleared out of the right bank of the Rnieper river below Reitchitsa, says the Red Star. All organised resiatj ance ceased 24 hours ago. The only j resistance left is at the crossings themselves. ! The paper adds that the Germans, m attempting to withdraw from the S Gomel trap, have suffered huge losses, including hundreds of men drowned in the Dnieper river. The British United Press says that the Russians after a three-day assault, inflicted against the Germans the worst rout since the crossing of the Dnieper river. The Russians broke through the German positions south of the Kremenchug bridgehead and joined up with the forces at the Dnepropetrovsk bridgehead after a twelve-mile advance. The Germans suffered very heavy casualties. The Russians in the past two days have destroyed over 130 tanks, killed 4000 Germans, and captured a large number of others. The Russians are only 15 miles from Shamenka, which is a rail pivot of the German front between Cherkasy and Krivoi Rog. Big Operations Going On Reuter says that the Russians are on the move from the Beresina river to the lower Dnieper, except north and east of Jitomir. Progress is now faster in the centre than in the south. Big operations are going on and indentations have been made along the whole front. The Germans in the Dnieper bend are putting up strenuous resistance and the fighting is becoming more mobile as frost hardens the ground to a granite-like surface. The Germans have been badly mauled. Incomplete data gives a total of 36.000 German dead since November 14. Reports from Stockholm say that German spokesmen admit that the Russians control the 'Gomel-Jlobin railway, depriving the Germans in Gomel of rail contact with the outside world.

The spokesmen, however, insist that Gomel is not completely cut oil, as a narrow gap is kept open between the railway and the Soj river. A Soviet communique has not been received.