BATTLES OF ATTRITION

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22248, 18 January 1944, Page 3

BATTLES OF ATTRITION

GERMANS’ RECKLESS ATTACKS RUSSIAN PROGRESS IN NORTH (Received Jan. 18, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 17 Although Red Army forces on the major part of the front . contending with what the Russians call an “orphan winter”—relatively mild thawing weather—they are able to use ski troops in the new offensive north of Sokolniki. They also continue to resist full-scale German counter-attacks of Vinnitsa, reports the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Russian mobile armoured forces north of Sokolniki are smashing across a densely forested swamp area, striking for the Leningrad-Polotsk railway, which is one of the last two supply lines the Germans retain south of Leningrad. The new drive is linked with General Bagramyan’s attacks between Nevel and Vitebsk. The whole manoeuvre is preparatory to a concerted push towards the Baltic States.

The German News Agency’s commentator, von Hammer, says a strcng Russian attack with five to seven inlantry divisions and tank formations north of Novograd has pushed oack the German front several miles. The fighting is extremely lively from Nevel to Oranienbaum and Leningrad. Ippa River Crossed

Reuter's Moscow correspondent says that in the drive against Poland General Rokossovsky’s men are thrusting on west of Kalinovichi and have already crossed the unfrozen Ippa river. They are within shelling distance of the railway that loops round between Pinsk and Minsk. General Vatutin’s right flank simultaneously continues the pressure on Pinsk from the south in an attempt to cut the Mozir-Pinsk railway.

The Berlin radio late tonight said the Russians were using a quarter of a million men on the northern lront offensive, and that after attacking across the frozen tip of Lake Ilmen thev have crossoct the Volkhov river 16 miles north-east of the lake. The battle east of Vinnitsa, which is the key to the whole southern front., has become a struggle of attrition over a 70-miles front. German counter-attacks in the second week have shown no signs of abating. Von Mannstein is using up men and material on a scale comparable with the battle of Stalingrad and is losing a hundred tanks daily.

A German spokesman, according to Reuter's Stockholm correspondent, said the battles on the eastern front had developed into a continuous offensive from Leningrad to Kerch.

A Moscow communique says the. Russians north of Sokolniki occupied several inhabited places, including Tuchin, 15 miles north-west of Rovno, Slobodka. 50 miles northwest of Sokolniki, and Kasilevichi 10 miles north of Sokolniki.