AT ITS CLIMAX

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 3

AT ITS CLIMAX

BATTLE OF THE KIEV BULGE Red Army Making Powerful Counter-attacks SOVIET AIRCRAFT GIVING EXCELLENT SUPPORT FURTHER RUSSIAN GAINS ON SOUTHERN FRONT • LONDON, December 13. In Russia the great battle of the Kiev bulge appears to be at its climax. The Germans describe the Russian counter-attacks as powerful. Front line reports reaching Moscow state that a vital feature of the battle is a marked improvement in flying conditions and Soviet aircraft are giving excellent cover to the ground troops. Mr Paul Winterton, the Moscow representative of the London “News-Chronicle,” says Soviet aircraft have always shewn up well on this front whenever flying conditions are suitable. This improvement in the weather should favour the Russians. Further down the front, the Russians are trying to link up their two bridgeheads over the Dnieper—at Cherkasy and Kremenchug. The Germans report strong attacks in both sectors. As the Red Army troops are driving the enemy, they are assisted by dive-bombers, which are keeping up their attacks on enemy concentrations and communications. The Russians are making good and steady progress towards the highway centre of Kirovograd. They were last reported less than 10 miles north and less than 15 miles south-east of Kirovograd.