BLACK WITH TANKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 November 1943, Page 3

BLACK WITH TANKS

PLAINS NEAR MELITOPOL

PURSUIT OF ENEMY. RETREAT TURNED INTO ROUT. (By Telegra /h—Press Association— Copyright) ' LONDON, November 1. Graphically describing the fighting south and south-west of Melitopol, a correspondent of the “Moscow News” says: “I watched mobile forces which rushed into the breaches after smashing the second German line south of Melitopol. The plains were literally black with our tanks, which came down like an avalanche against the retreating Germans and the blow was so powerful that the retreat of some of the German units was turned, into a rout. They abandoned vast quantities of material on the roads running westward from Melitopol. The remains of artillery ' pieces and machine-guns were crushed under our tanks, and the corpses of German officers, and soldiers could be seen everywhere. “Our mobile forces had struck first against road junctions to intercept the retreating enemy, and as a result of the capture of these junctions the Germans lost their chance to offer prolonged resistance and consequently retreated' in a rout.” The “Red Star,” describing the Germans’ retreat from Melitopol as confused, adds: “German officers vainly tried to restore order. They, dashed among the soldiers, threatening them with their revolvers, but they were unable to halt the panic.” ENEMY TROOPS MOVEMENT FROM ITALY TO RUSSIA. i LONDON, November 1. A dispatch from a correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain on the Italian frontier, has supported a report reaching Stockhold that large detachments of German troops are being hurriedly withdrawn from northern Italy and transferred to the Russian front. Several .troop-trains are reported to have left Genoa and Milan every day over the last week, some by way of the Brenner Pass and others through France.