NO SLACKENING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1943, Page 3

NO SLACKENING

IN RED ARMY OFFENSIVE SOUTH OF NEVEL

Breach In German Defences Widened

DEVELOPING THREAT TO VITEBSK

ABORTIVE ENEMY-COUNTER-ATTACKS ON SOUTHERN FRONT

LONDON, December 21. The Russians are steadily widening the breach in the German defences between Novel and Vitebsk. The Germans are throwing in reserves in .an attempt to halt the Red Army onslaught. ■ , The danger to Vitebsk is growing more acute. Russian spearheads driving down from Nevel are little more than 20 miles from Vitebsk. So far the Russian offensive shows no signs of slackening. The Germans themselves speak of intensified pressure by the Red Army. The Germans have renewed, their attacks on the tip of the Kiev bulge, but these efforts are on a smaller scale than those made previously. The main weight of the German counterblow has shifted further south, round Kirovograd. Enemy tank and infantry forces attacked in this area in an attempt to hold up the Russian drive on this important road centre, So far the attackers have lost heavily without obtaining any compensation in the way of ground gained.