GERMANS PANIC NOTE

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22245, 14 January 1944, Page 3

GERMANS PANIC NOTE

‘ARMAGEDDON DRAWING TO CLIMAX’ RUSSIAN TROOPS REACH BUG RIVER RED ARMY’S AIM—ANMHILIATION OF ENEMY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Jan. 14, noon) LONDON, Jan. 13 Soviet forces have reached the frontier established after the Russians marched into Poland in 1939. The Moscow radio announced that the Russians have reached the Polish river Bug at a point 115 miles west of the old frontier. The Bug river here forms the line of the new 1939 border. * The clearly-stated aim of the Red Army is the total destruction of all the German forces. In a message to soldiers obviously inspired by the Kremlin the Moscow newspapers Pravda and Red Star say: “Your aim is the utter defeat of the enemy, the destruction or seizure of all his material, and the annihilation or capture of all his men. Our offensive operations in the Lkraine are developing on an ever-increasing scale. Successful offensive battles are going on over a huge area.” Dietmar today gave another grave warning to the German people. He said: “At present we have only one aim in mind —do fight for time. Armageddon seems to be drawing to a climax. Once again the German front in the East is being subjected to another extremely grim trial. New and enormous Soviet offensives may be expected shortly.”

Retreat in Disorder Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that the Germans are retreating in disorder west of Sarny, with the Russians pressing on towards Kowel. The Russians have reached points within 40 miles south-east of Pinsk. “The Red Army’s tactical skill is the formulation of outflanking possibilities against six major Germanheld Russian towns,” says the Red Star. “The Red Army has already badly outflanked Vinnitsa from the south-east, Shepetovka from the north and south, and Rovno from the north-west. The Russians are also moving into positions from \?/hich outflanking strokes can be dealt in the direction of Bobruisk, Kowel and P-insk.” With enemy sources admitting to’day that strong Red Army columns are still pouring into Poland, the Moscow correspondent of the American Press says that advanced Russian units are already moving on to firm ground beyond the fringe of the Pinsk marshes west of Sarny and with the aid of guerillas are continuing to seep through the Fovno forests. A grim struggle :s going on over the bleak marshy terrain north o; Sarny. The Germans, hampered by poor communications and the difficulty of exploiting their panzers, are being pushed back into the guerillaridden Pripet marshes. At Approaches to Mozir The Russian forces advancing on Mozir are pushing through the heart of the Pripet marshes. Reuter’s •correspondent says that the Russians have reached the inner defence ring, between 5 and 7 miles deep, around Mozir. Tense fighting is going on, with Russian planes bombing the Germans in dug-outs and trenches. The Stockholm Dagens Nyheter’s Berlin correspondent says that military circles in Berlin admit that, the Russians have smashed through the German lines in the Vitebsk area and are fighting in the German rear, attacking with 26 divisions north and south of Vitebsk. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that Ukrainian guerillas, co-operating with General Vatutin’s men, were largely responsible for the capture of Sarny. The country between Olevsk and Rovno is among the wildest anywhere in Europe, composed of great forests, interspersed with almost roadless swamps—ideal for guerilla operations. When General Vatutin burst across the Polish border guerillas massed in the Rovno forests two long columns of German infantry and tanks rolled eastwards, with the object of reinforcing the garrison of Sarny. Germans Ambushed The guerillas ambushed the enemy columns and launched a full-scale attack. The guerillas pinned down the Germans in one of the heaviest battles which the guerillas have ever fought. The Germans tried to disengage, but the guerillas clung to them until regular Red Army units arrived. The enemy columns were wiped out and the aid which the Sarny garrisdn was awaiting never arrived. Red Army tanks after smashing through Sarny continued along the road west of the town, which is pareliel to one which the Germans are retiring. The Russian tank men poured a hail of fire into the German columns until they were wiped out. Guns v. Tanks The Germans are still frenziedly counter-attacking east of Vinnitsa, but are being forced back more and more northwards, where General Vatifiin’s men are only 13 miles north-east of Shepetovka. which is the main gateway to South Poland. Moscow military officials declare that this area is more important than Sarny. Reuter's correspondent describes the savage fighting east of Vinnitsa as a battle of guns versus tanks. Von Mannstein has mustered all available tanks in a determined effort to halt the Russians, but General Vatutin assembled powerful concentrations of artillery, which won the final battle of the Kiev bulge at Jitomir. Fierce sea engagements are going on in the Kerch Straits, where storms have been raging for the past few days. The Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau states that the Red Army today penetrated German positions west of Mozir and breached the town’s defences at several points. The Red Army operations west ot' Mozir means that the town has been outflanked. Tonight’s Soviet communique says: Troops of the White Russian front, under General Rokossovsky, developed their offensive and occupied more than 40 inhabited places, including Dudichi, 10 miles north of Mozir. The Russians have closely approached the region in the centre or White Russia, Mozir, and the large rail junction of Kilenkovichi. The Russians west and south-west of Sarny captured several localities and a number of rail stations, including Tutovichi. 10 miles west of Sarny. West and south-west of NovogTad Volynsk they captured over 60 places, including Korets, 40 miles east of Rovno. also the rail station of Maidanvila, 13 miles north-east of Shepetovka. The Red Army west and southwest of Berditchev fought offensive battles and occupied several localities.* East of Vinnitsa it repelled strong counter-attacks.