VALUE OF KIEV

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 November 1943, Page 3

VALUE OF KIEV

EMPHASISED BY STALIN IMPORTANT & FAVOURABLE BASE. CLOSE PURSUIT OF DEFEATED GERMANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 7. Announcing he fall of Kiev, Marshal Stalin said: “Troops of the first Ukrainian front, by a violent operation and a daring bypass manoeuvre, at dawn today occupied by storm the capital of the Soviet Ukraine, the most important industrial centre and strategic centre of enemy resistance on the right bank of the Dnieper. “With the capture of Kiev the Soviet troops have occupied a most important and most favourable base on the right bank of the Dnieper for driving the Germans from the entire Ukraine.” Moscow yesterday was a city delirious with joy at Kiev’s capture on the eve of the 26th anniversary of the Soviet revolution, reports Reuter’s correspondent. As the victory guns thundered out the biggest salvo yet, people embraced one another in the streets. The Russians are already advancing westward of Kiev and are also preparing to strike behind the German armies fighting inside the Dnieper bend, reports the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. At least 14 German divisions are reported to be moving westward from the Kiev area across the Ukrainian steepes, with General Vatutin’s armoured units in close pursuit. The German news agency today says that evacuation of Kiev was made necessary to 'avoid encirclement by Soviet troops. It also claims that fog and rain hampered the defenders and facilitated the encircling movement by the Russians. SOVIET MILITARY HONOURS. Marshal Stalin’s order of the day announcing the fall of Kiev added: “Moscow, in the name of the Soviet Union, is today saluting our valiant troops with 24 salvoes from 324 guns. I thank all the troops who participated for the excellent execution of the military operations. Eternal glory to those who have fallen in the struggle for the liberation and independence of our land! Death to the German invader!” The order is addressed to General Nicholas Valutin, commander of the Frst Ukrainian Army, who led the Russian forces during the counter- offensive at Stalingrad last December. It states that the units which specially distinguished themselves* will in future be known as “Kiev” formations. They include 14 infantry divisions, three tank corps, two artillery divisions, and also the First Czechoslovak Brigade, which will be decorated with the Order of Suvarov (second class). The Moscow radio announced that the Soviet has awardpd Marshal Stalin the Order of Suvarov (first class) for his successful military leadership. SERIOUS DISORDERS EXTENDING IN AUSTRIA. NAZIS MAKING HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS. LONDON, November 6. Hundreds of arrests are being made in Austria; new concentration camps are being opened and many death sentences have been passed, says a special correspondent of the Basle (Switzerland) “Nachrichten.” In the neighbourhood of Vienna alone 30,000 S.S. troops are concentrated and they make no secret of the fact that their task is to take up arms in the event of civil war, the correspondent says. He tells of Austrian disillusionment and hatred of the Germans, for whom they openly show their contempt and dislike. The cardinal cause of the Austrian discontent, he says, is the manner in which Germany, politically and economically, rules Austria. “The latest news from Austria reveals that the Nazis are cracking fast,” said Archduke Otto, claimant to the Hapsburg throne, in an interview in Washington. “I believe the European war will end in a few months, when I may return to Vienna to aid the reconstruction,” he stated. Secret reports from Austria in the last month, he said, revealed a tremendous wave of tire-slashing, which had accentuated the German rubber

shortage. Broken bottles littered the roads to Italy. The figure 1918 greeted the Germans from many walls each day. The Nazis had been forced to demobilise more than 13,000 Austrians as unreliable soldiers. Sabotage between Salzburg and Vienna last month caused 17 train accidents.