Threat of Another Major Encirclement

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 61, 15 March 1944, Page 5

Threat of Another Major Encirclement

LONDON, March 13. The British United Press’s Moscow correspondent says that advanced Russian cavalry, splashing through the mud, is finding the entire enemy defence system disrupted. Small enemy units are not trying to make a stand. The Russian columns are steadily moving down the banks of the Lower Dnieper and the Bug River, preventing the Germans from using the Bug as a new defence line and preventing major bodies of Germans from escaping across the river westward. The German confusion is increasing under the threat of another major encirclement. The correspondent, quoting the latest reports from the front, says that the word panic is applicable to the present retreat in which the enemy is abandoning even light equipment and rifles in his rush to the rear. The defence of Nikolaiev and other important Black Sea towns whereon the Germans have hinged their Ukraine positions may now be impossible owing to the disruption of the German front. The correspondent adds: To the north the great street battle continues in Tarnopol, where the Germans are mailing their one determined effort to stand and fight. They are hanging on to the western part of the town, supported by concentrations of guns and mortars on hills outside the town. Although the town is ideal for defence the Russians are steadily pushing the defenders out. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent declares: The chances that the Germans will be able to hold the Bug line arc very small. The Germans are facing the probability that they will be forced to withdraw the whole of their southern line to the Dniester in defence against the Russian threat. A vast encircling movement overshadows 250,000 men. One Russian army, under the command of General Koniev, is fanning out swiftly. The Third Ukrainian Army, under General Malinovsky, after forcing a crossing of the Ingul River is now pressing on towards the lower reaches of the Bug River. These two forces are converging on the rail junction of Pervomaisk and the junction of these Russian forces will draw a tight net around the Germans. The threat from the Russian army under Marshal Zhukov is equally grave for the Germans. The fall of Proskurov (on the Odessa-Warsaw railway) and Vinnitsa would turn the whole of the Bug line. correspondent describes yester day’s progress as one of the most dramatic and swift advances of the whole winter campaign. Summing up the results of the ten

days’ lighting on the 400-mile front Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says. The disastrous consequence for the Germans of the Second. Ukrainian Army's enormous victory at Uman, is piling up. Firstly, the Gormans lost irreplaceable armour and panzer groups especially assigned to hold up tho Russian southward advance from Kiev. Secondly, rail communications to Rumania are gravely endangered. Thirdly, Vinnitsa has been opened to a flank attack. Fourthly, there is a possibility that the forces will be split into two unconnected groups. The first group would include troops from Kirovgrad to Odessa, and the other those fighting on the western end of the front who can still withdraw to Xiwow. The Russian progress along the whole southern front has been increasingly aided by the use of German equipment which is being impressed into service as soon as it is captured in order to speed up the advance.