Evening star., 1943-11-18
Moscow Farley Ended Dangers
OF Balance Of Power Hull Says;
Red Forces Fall Back in Ukraine
Russian Retreat
Is Believed on
Small Scale
MAP on Page A-I4.)
BY HENRY C. CASSIDY,
Associated Press War Corresponden-

~ AAAANAtA ~. Sf10SxD1,
Associated Press War Correspondent.
MOSCOW, Nov. 18.-Confront-
ed with stiff counterattacks, ad-
verse weather conditions and
difficult terrain, the Red Army
has yielded ground in the
Ukraine for the first time since
it began its successful offensive
four months ago.
The withdrawal was executed yes
terday in the Zhitomir- -Korostyshev
sector at the tip of the Red Army's
salient west of Kiev, and came on
the eve of the first anniversary of
the launching of the great Soviet
counteroffensive at Stalingrad on
November 18, 1912.
The retreat followed a series of
heavy Nazi counterattacks southeast
OF Zhltomlr an in the FaStov
sector, in which masses of tanks and
infantry were used in an attempt
to slice off the bulge in the Soviet
front. A Russian communique said
the drive cost the Germans $500
casualties and 80 tanks and troop
carriers.
(Advices from London said the
Germans were reported to have
thrown at least 10000 troops
into the Zhitomir counteras-
sault.)
Details Not Given.
The depth of the withdrawal was
not given in the Russian COM
munique, which confined itself to
the laconic report that the Red
Army. under enemy pressure, was
abandoning several settlements.
Moscow military observers, how
ever, believed the withdrawal was
not on a large scale, but was simply
a tactical maneuver designed to
prevent the encirclement of a COM
paratively small advance guard.
They explained that light mobile
column of tanks and motorized in
fantry had led the Russian drive
through Korostyshev and Zhitomir
and that the bulk Of the Red Army
forces was not able to maintain
the pace. Boggy ground impeded
troops movements and low visi-
bility restricted aerial activity, front
adviceS said.
Gen. Nikolai Vatutin's lst Ukrain-
ian Army. which carried out the re-
treat, has been one of the fastest
moving Russian units in the present
offensive, begun on July IL in the
Belgorod sector.
Other Forces Advance.
While the tip and left flank of the
Kiev salient sagged slightly under
the heavy enemy pressure, other Red
Army forces pushed forward on the
right flank toward the strategic rail
junction city of Korosten to the
north.
The Russians captured the towns
OF Narodichi, % miles northeast of
Korosten, and Chernobil, so miles
east OF Narodichi near the junction
OF the Pripet and Dnieper Rivers.
The German garrison in Korosten
was thus threatened from the south,
east and north but fought Stub
bornly to hold that valuable COM
munications and supply center, dis
patches said.
The width of the Kiev bridgehead,
however, left the Red Army with
ample space to adjust its positions
and to strike out anew from internal
lines against the scattered German
opposition.
On the lower White Russian front
to the north, Soviet columns were
fighting their way through the sub
urbs of Rechitsa, strongly fortified
city on the west bank of the
Dnieper, the communique said, and
had gained ground on the east bank
OF the river north of Gomel, tight
ening their grip on that beleaguered
stronghold.
New Drive Reported.
A new Soviet drive was also re-
ported under way near Arsha,
Dnieper River city 10 miles south
west of Smolensk, and the junction
point for the Leningrad-Od
Moscow Warsaw railway lines.
The Russians also were attacking
in the Southern Ukraine, continu-
ing their drive to clear out the
Dnieper bend. Here 1000 Germans
were reported killed, with 10 enemy
tanks, II guns and 48 trucks being
destroyed. Several important towns
were captured in a thrust toward
Krivoi Rog, the war bulletin said.
There was no mention of develop
ments in the battle for the Crimean
Peninsula, but dispatches from the
front indicated that fog and rain
were immobilizing both sides.