DOOMED STRONGHOLD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1943, Page 3

DOOMED STRONGHOLD

RUSSIANS CLOSING IN ON GOMEL Attacks on Last Remaining Enemy Supply Line GERMAN COUNTER-OFFENSIVE FRONT WIDENED IN SOUTH CONTINUED SOVIET THRUSTS INTO DNIEPER BEND LONDON, November 23. The battle for the great German stronghold of Gomel, at the southern end of the White Russian front, appears to be in its final phase. Axis reports speak of Russian penetrations and German withdrawals and state that the defence of Gomel has served its purpose. General Rokossorsky’s men are fighting their way, through heavy swamps and dense forests, towards Gomel’s last lifeline, the railway which runs north-west from the town. One Soviet force is thrusting forward from the bridgehead across the River Soj and cavalry units are reported already to have crossed the enemy railway. Another Russian force is advancing on the railway from Rechitza. The Germans have widened to 30 miles the front of their counter-offensive against the southern flank of the Kiev bulge, east and north of but have failed to find a weak spot in the Russian defences, though one report says the position remains dangerous. Meantime Soviet forces are making headway in their twin thrusts into the Dnieper bend, from the Kremenchug area and north of Nikopol. The Germans are resisting fiercely in a bloody struggle for the manganese centre of Nikopol and the junction of Apostolovo. Still more serious for them is a continued wide Soviet advance from the Kremenchug area, which has brought the Russians within 15 miles of the junction of Znamenka and is threatening the rear of the whole German forces in the bend and also the flank of the Germans at Cherkassy.