SOVIET FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 December 1943, Page 4

SOVIET FORCES

PRESSING ON TO NEXT OBJECTIVES

IN DNIEPER BEND DRIVE.

ENEMY HELD IN BATTLE OF BULGE .

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright' (Received This Day, 12.5 n.m.) LONDON, December 16. The Red Army is keeping up the momentum of its advances against its next objectives—Smyela and Kiirovgrad—says Reuter’s Moscow

correspondent. Russian advanced units are already threatening the

outskirts of Smyela, which is a junction' of five railways. ' Three Russian forces are threatening Smyela. Two columns are closing in from the north and east, while a third force is advancing from the south, threatening to cut the railway line behind the town. The Germans are resisting stubbornly in the Kirovgrad sector. The enemy yesterday lost 800 men and 32 tanks in one counter-attack alone. It is reported that the Germans have brought up reserves from Odessa in an attempt to save the deteriorating situation on the Dnieper bend front. Moscow correspondents say it would be premature to regard the German attempt to regain Kiev as terminated. The battle of the bulge is still in the balance, but there is complete confidence in Moscow that General Vatutin has the situation in hand. One correspondent says that while the Germans continue to throw in new tank forces, they may gain more ground, but their chances of capturing any strategic objectives are negligible. The Germans tried to exploit the capture of Radomsyl, but the Russians countered their attacks with massed artillery, smashingtanks and five armoured vehicles in a two-hour barrage. The Moscow radio, in a broadcast to the Red Army, declared: “We beat the enemy in two previous winters, and this winter we will batter him to death. Snowstorms, frosts and howling winds are welcomed. Winter will create for us very favourable conditions for exhausting encircling and siege manoeuvres.” HELD BY RUSSIANS 500-MILE STRETCH OF DNIEPER. SAVE FOR ONE BREAK. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, December 16. Al) the Dnieper crossings for 500 miles of its middle course, are now, with cne exception, in Russian hands. The exception is near Kansv, where, 40 or 50 miles above Cherkasy, the Germans still hold a short stretch.

The Germans also hold 120 miles of the river in White Russia, from Orsha to Jlobin, and 150 miles of the lower reach, from Nikopol to the month. Apart from these - stretches, the Dnieper is once more a Russian river. The Russians have, however, only seven railway crossings in their 500 miles stretch. This is a hindrance to the mounting of an offensive beyond the river, but will without doubt be overcome in due course.