BUT WITH DIMINISHING PROSPECTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1943, Page 3

BUT WITH DIMINISHING PROSPECTS

German Counter-Offensive West of Kiev

ENEMY LOSING LARGE NUMBER OF TANKS IN DESPERATE BATTLE

RUSSIANS CLOSING ON KRIVOI ROG AND SNAMENKA

LONDON, December 9. In Russia, the Germans launched fresh counter-attacks at dawn today against the Red Army bulge beyond Kiev. The enemy again concentrated his attacks along the road to Kiev. Moscow reports.that the Germans massed 600 tanks in this area, as well as strong infantry forces, including two motorised divisions. The enemy again succeeded in gaining some ground. . Mr Paul Winterton,, the Moscow representative of the London “News-Chronicle,” says the Germans are undoubtedly hoping to be able to carry on the attack long enough to liquidate the Kiev bulge-and possibly to take Kiev itself and drive the Russians back over the Dnieper. This, it is hoped by the Germans, would enable them to withdraw their forces from the Dnieper bend, further south, in good order. Nothing less than this would warrant the enemy’s colossal loss of material. In the last three days ’ fighting, the enemy has lost 250 tanks. Ho is using anything up to 1000 tanks but he cannot continue the present rate of loss much longer. Since the Germans failed to break through in their first onslaught they are not likely to gain their objective at this later stage, when their attacks are weaker. The Soviet people are calm about the position and there is no reason to doubt that the Red Army has the situation in hand. The battle, however, remains one of the most desperate and important of the war.

In the Dnieper bend, Red Army troops are driving on Krivoi Rog from two directions. The Germans are contesting every yard of ground and are putting in frequent counterattacks, but are gradually being driven back. The enemy-occupied railway junction of Snamenka is now almost surrounded and its fall is likely at any moment.