HEAVY LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1943, Page 3

HEAVY LOSSES

OF MEN AND MATERIAL SUFFERED BY GERMANS. IN PERSISTENT BUT VAIN COUNTER-ATTACKS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, December 23. In the three present main batWhite Russia and western and southern Ukraine —the Germans have been attacking powerfully and at great cost without any advance. A Russian supplementary communique stated: “South of Novel German tanks, supported by infantry, yesterday attacked .one sector 16 times in quick succession. All the attacks were repelled and, on the heels of the retreating enemy, our troops occupied several villages. “South-west of Jlobin the enemy attacked on a narrow sector with two infantry divisions and more than 100 tanks. A tense engagement ensued, but our troops maintained their positions. In this attack the enemy lost in killed alone 1800 men, and also 45 tanks were destroyed or disabled. “In the Korosten area the enemy attacked with large tank and infantry forces and after a three-hour battle succeeded in breaking into our positions, but our counter-attack threw him back. Forty-three burnt-out German tanks and hundreds of enemy dead remained on the battlefield.

“South-east 'of Kirovograd two companies of German tommy-gunners which had wedged into our positions were surrounded and wiped out.”

DRIVE ON VITEBSK

RUSSIANS ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY 1 CITY STRONGLY FORTIFIED (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.0 a.m.) RUGBY, December 23. The Russian advance between Nevel and Vitebsk appears to have brought them to about 20 miles from Vitebsk, which is strongly fortified and likely to be held even if seriously outflanked. Gorodok, 25 miles to the north, probably is more or less invested.