IMPORTANT THRUST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1943, Page 3

IMPORTANT THRUST

MADE BY RUSSIANS INTO DNIEPER BEND

German Main Supply Line Menaced HOT PURSUIT OF RETREATING ENEMY DEVELOPMENTS IN KOROSTEN AREA IN ' WHITE RUSSIA LONDON, December 1. The Russians have made an important advance in the Dnieper bend, south-west of Kremenchug, and the Germans are retreating towards the railway junction of Znamenka. A Moscow message says the Russians, after smashing a German armoured unit, have reached a point less than eight miles from Znamenka, which stands on the main supply line for the German armies in the Dnieper bend further east. The Russians are hotly pursuing the retreating German troops. Mr Paul Winterton, the London “News-Chronicle’s” Moscow representative, refers to the importance of railways to the Germans at this time of the year, when the roads are reduced to seas of mud. The Germans are having to rely largely on the railways for supplies and the Russians are making keypoints in the railway system their first objectives. Referring to the Russian withdrawal from Korosten, Mr Winterton. states that the final outcome of the battle in that area is still undecided.' The Swiss radio says that the Russians have recaptured part of Korosten. The German radio, admitting that troops are continuing to retreat to Jlobin and also to Rogachev, added: “Even the capture of Jlobin will not decide the fate of the German forces in 1 the Gomel area, because they have already escaped the Russian pincer movement. The Moscow radio reports that the Germans yesterday counter-attacked no fewer than 15 times in one area north-west of Gomel. All the attacks were repelled,, the enemy losing in killed alone more than 1500.