TREMENDOUS GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 November 1943, Page 4

TREMENDOUS GAINS

MADE BY THE RED ARMY WEST OF DNIEPER AERA OF 10,000 MILES OCCUPIED IN WEEK OR TWO. WAY OPENED TO FURTHER OPERATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 19. The Russians a fortnight ago held a bridgehead of 700 to 800 square miles on the west bank of the Dnieper, above Kiev. The Russians today, as they approach the Beresina River, occupy 10,000 square miles on the west bank of the Dnieper. They hold almost the whole area below the Beresina River bordered on the west by the Jitomir-Mosir Railway and southwards by the zig-zag front from Kiev to Jitomir. The capture of Korosten opens tip new vistas for the Red Army. The “Red Star” says Korosten’s capture enables the Russians to manoeuvre reserves for new and important strategic operations. The Moscow radio revealed that divisions which relieved Stalingrad a year ago are participating in the great drive west of the Dnieper. The radio added that the Stalingrad offensive had changed the whole course of the war. LOSS OF JITOMIR RUSSIAN AND ENEMY REPORTS. THE NEW DNIEPER CROSSING. (By Telegraph—. Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. A few minutes after the issue of the Soviet communique announcing the evacuation of Jitomir, the Berlin radio declared: “The position of the Soviet forces in the Jitomir area is deteriorating every minute. The Germans, despite a vigorous Russian resistance, have succeeded in surrounding the advanced Soviet force and have compelled the Russians, by energetic attacks against their flanks, to withdraw from an important road.” Earlier today, correspondents in Moscow reported that the tempo of the battle in the Jitomir wedge was still mounting. Reuter’s correspondent said the Germans yesterday and today poured in more men and tanks, and that, with clearer skies, a greater number of German planes was participating. The Russian night communique says troops of the First Ukrainian Front, as a result of a swift blow last night, occupied the town and railway junction of Ovrutch and 30 other inhabited places. The Russians in the Cherkasy region crossed the Dnieper, captured several fortified enemy strongpoints on the west bank, and are now fighting on the approaches to Cherkasy.