NORTHERN PENETRATION

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

NORTHERN PENETRATION

SOKOLNIKI HEMMED IN LONDON, Jan. 16 The Red Army north of Sokolniki, as the result of three days’ fighting, has penetrated the enemy’s defences over a frent of eight miles to a depth of five miles ar.d occupied more than 40 inhabited localities, including the railway station at Nasva, 16 miles above Novo Sokolniki, thereby cutting the Sokolniki-Leningrad railway. The new offensive is not yet on the scale of the other Russian drives. Although the Germans still hold the junction of Sokolniki it is of no use to them, as it is hemmed in on three sides by the Red Army. The tank battles east of Vinnitsa and north of Uman are as fierce as any fought during von Mannstein’s counter-offensive west of Kiev says the News Chronicle correspondent. In yesterday’s lighting on these two sectors the Russians knocked out 135 German tanks. “The Germans threw in more than 100 tanks and several regiments of infantry in an attack on a narrow sector. A Russian artillery barrage foiled the attack. The enemy brought up reinforcements and renewed the attack In fierce fighting, the Russians forced the Germans to retreat after 2000 enemy troops had been wiped out.” A Swedish report says it is stated in Berlin that the vanguard of a strong Russian force thrusting from the Vinnitsa area crossed the Bug river. German reserves strongly counter-attacked. Ore Russian unit was encircled and now apparently faces defeat unless the Russians can bring up reinforcements. On the southern fringe of the Pricet Marshes. Russian spearheads have gained more ground. One spearhead now appears to be well over 50 miles west of the 1939 Polish frontier. At Kostopol. south of Sarny. Russian troops who took the town” repulsed with heavy casualties German troops who counter-attacked in an attempt to restore the position.