CONTINUED HEADWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1943, Page 3

CONTINUED HEADWAY

MADE BY SOVIET FORCES IN WHITE RUSSIA Several Columns Closing on Railway Centre of Jlobin EVACUATION OF KOROSTEN ANNOUNCED MORE FAVOURABLE POSITIONS TAKEN UP LONDON, November 30. Soviet troops are advancing on a wide front in White Russia, striking into the flank of the German line. Several columns are advancing on the important railway centre of Jlobin and one of these columns is now only seven miles distant from that town. On some parts of the front further south the Russians also are advancing, but they announce the evacuation of the town of Korosten (north west of, Kiev) the recapture of which has been claimed recently by the enemy. It is around Korosten that the Germans are putting in some of their fiercest attacks in their big counter-offensive against the Kiev bulge. The Russians have now taken up more favourable positions after evacuating Korosten. The Moscow correspondent of the 1 ‘iN'ews Chronicle, ’ ’ Paul Winterton, states that the Germans in the last few days have not gained an inch of ground in the Kiev bulge. In White Russia the Red Army is keeping up its progress and has made more advances north-west of Gomel. The Russians are closing in on Jlobin from three directions. One column from Gomel was last night reported to be 10 miles south-east of Jlobin, another was the same distance away to the south-west and between them a third column was seven miles distant from the town. The White Russia front is a district of great rivers, the Soj, Dnieper, Beresina, and Pripet. Every river has many tributaries and every tributary is surrounded by big swamps. It is the worst season of the year on this part of the front, with a good deal of rain and sleet, and all minor roads present a major transport problem. In spite of these handicaps of weather and ground the Russians are making first-class progress and the Germans are being pressed steadily back. In the Dnieper . bend the Russians have improved their positions and beaten off enemy counter-attacks. They have also gained more ground south-west of Kremenchug and near Cherkasy. A Moscow correspondent states that in some places the German tank losses are so heavy that the tank crews are now fighting as infantry.