WINTER OFFENSIVE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1943, Page 4

WINTER OFFENSIVE

LIKELY TO OPEN SOON ON AT LEAST FOUR FRONTS FOLLOWING ON NAZI FAILURE WEST OF KIEV. RED ARMY PREPARATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright; (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says that a huge Russian winter offensive on at least four fronts—firstly, between the Pripet and Bersina fivers; secondly, between Jlobin and Orsha; thirdly, on a naval front, and lastly in the Krivoi Rog and Nikopol sectors—is expected soon to be launched as a result of the German failure to break through west of Kiev. The Germans’ intention in launching their massive counter-attack was to try to force the Russians to draw off forces from neighbouring fronts, thereby delaying the Red Army’s winter offensive, but the Russians again 'hold the initiative in the Kiev bulge, obviating any disruption of the Russian High Command’s future plans in other sectors.

The weather from the Kiev sector northwards is now sufficiently cold for real winter operations, at which the Russians are masters. Even the Kiev sector* is practically cold enough for specialised operations, while the hardened ground is enabling the Red Ah’ Force to resume full-scale attacks.

Moscow correspondents say that Red Army mobile units are pouring on west from Chigirin, supported by hedgehopping Stormoviks, which are operating effectively inside the' corridor formed by the Tasnin and Dnieper to keep the Germans on the move and to prevent the construction of a new defence line.

The Ankara radio reported that the Russians have occupied Cherkasy. Von Hammer, the German news agency’s military commentator, stated that the Dnieper bend is the scene of the Russians’ greatest operations. The Red Army has reached points southwest of Kirovgrad. Reuter points out that this means that Kirovgrad, 25 miles south-west of Snamenka, has been outflanked. Earlier, Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated that the Russians, in their steady drive towards Kirovgrad, had cleaned up German knots and resistance south-east, east and north of the city.

Von Hammer, late tonight, stated that a Russian'tank group, with infantry mounted on the tanks, penetrated the German lines in the Dnieper bend. There was extremely bitter fighting all today north-west of Krivoi Rog, west of Kremenchug and in the Cherkasy area. Tonight’s Soviet communique stated that the Red Army in the Kirovgrad sector continued its offensive and captured several inhabited places, and west of Kremenchug overcame enemy resistance and captured five heavilyfortified strongpoints, including Adamovka, Vdovin and Khuto. The Russians south of Mali continued to. fight engagements against tanks, and infantry and improved their positions. GERMAN EFFORT IN KIEV COUNTER-OFFENSIVE APPARENTLY PETERING OUT (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 13. The next 24 hours should show whether Marshal Von Mannstein can mobilise more reserves for the continuance of the counter-offen-sive against the Kiev salient, or whether the whole assault is going to peter out, leaving decimated German divisions to face a power- * ful Red Army counter-drive, declares Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. He adds that the Germans have had big losses in the latest battles. The number of tanks in action during the past few days has significantly declined. The panzer push for the time being appears to have reached exhaustion or the limit of the widest margin of losses the enemy dare afford. Von Mannstein is threatened with complete failtire unless he. is able to renew the assault with more powerful forces. Reuter’s military writer says the Germans appear to have shot their bolt in their counter-offensive in the Kiev salient. The Russian reinforcements which have reached General Vatutin slowly but surely are gaining ground. If they decisively defeat General Von Hoth’s Fourth Panzer Army, the fate of the Dnieper bend is sealed. German dead are lying thickly at the approaches to the newly-captured Soviet positions, after a series of furious Soviet counter-attacks west of Kiev, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. In the battle now raging across the open country and on the outskirts of forests. duels between tanks and artillery are giving way to fierce infantry clashes in a number of sectors, as the Russians increase their pressure against battered villages and strongpoints, which have changed hands several times.