Almost Limitless Possibilities

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 55, 8 March 1944, Page 5

Almost Limitless Possibilities

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 6. The implications of the long-awaited large-scale Russian offensive west and southwest of Shepetovka are the subject of lively discussion in London, and some observers describe them a 3 almost limitless. Advancing to a maxi mum depth of 30 miles on a front oi 110 miles, the Russian drive involves great forces. The cutting of the railway will deprive von Mannstein of his last direct route from Poland to his iorces in the Dnieper salient and force him to rely on very inefficient single track railways across the Dnieper into Rumania. Of tnese the most southern crosses the river at Riraspol, the next at Rezinal, while the third and most northerly crosses the river almost north and south of Podolski. All cross by large bridges which will doubtless receive the attention of the Russian air force. It seems impossible that these remaining lines could carry the supplies necessary for major battles, and therefore von Mannstein’s men are in a very precarious position. Marshal Zhukov, who is in charge ol the new southern operations owing to General Vatutin’s illness, is one of Russia's leading military figures. A peasant’s son, he was born in 1896 and fought in the ranks of the Tsarist Army in the civil war of 1918-1922. in 1939 he commanded Russian troops against the Japanese in Mongolia, and the following year he was decorated as Hero of the Soviet Union for his direction of operations against Finland. In the winter of 1941 he commanded the army group which played the chief part in saving Moscow and in 1942 commanded the victorious Russians at Stalingrad. Some of the 50 German divisions, totalling perhaps from 500,000 to 600,000 men, are involved in the enemyheld area threatened by the Russians, in the new Ukrainian broakthrough, says the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s military correspondent. He adds: “The situation for the Germans, serious as it undoubtedly is, does not yet indicate an immediate catastrophe.’* The Germans have been forced to admit the gravity of Marshal Zhukov’s big thrust in southern Russia. Berlin radio to-ntght dwelt particularly on the