Russians Attempt To Cross Dnieper

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 228, 25 September 1943, Page 5

Russians Attempt To Cross Dnieper

ONE MILE FROM KIEV Germans Admit That Kuban Is Finally Lost

(N.Z.P.A. —Copyright.—Rec. 12.30 p.m.) . _ LONDON, September 24. Admissions by Berlin radio that Russian forces are attempting to cross the Dnieper River at its confluence with the Desna River about one mile from Kiev, and' that the Kuban area has been finally lost and is being evacuated provide the highlights of another day ot tremendous Russian successes. Berlin radio military commentator, Captain Sertorius, who admitted that the Russians are within a mile of Kiev, stated that the Russians also attempted to cross the Dnieper at the confluence with the Pnpet River, 50 miles north of Kiev. Sertorius added"Based on the tremendous river barrier, the German armies wili regroup, partly in front and partly behind the barrier. It is by no means certain that the German High Command will allow the enemy to approach the Dnieper at all points before showing what can be done by combined modern military technique and the exploitation of ground conditions which are excellent for defence strategy."

Declaring that detaching movements were continuing in various sectors, Sertorius said: "Particularly north of the Sea of Azov the Red Army has concentrated strong reserves for a breakthrough to the Nogaisk steppe, but a powerful German counterthrust east of Melitopol may have thrown the enemy's plans into disarray." Red Army Columns Advancing Against Smolensk Over road's which have been turned into morasses by heavy rains, General Konev's motorised cavalry south-east of Poltava are approaching the Dnieper on a broad front, says the correspondent of the British United Press. Russian forces advanced 20 miles towards Kremenchug after capturing Poltava yesterday. A stream of troops, lorries, guns and tanks is passing southward through Poltava. The Russian Army newspaper Red Star reports that the Russians first reached the Dnieper through Novomoskosk, 12 miles from Dnepropetrovsk, while strong forces have since reached the eastern bank at other, points. Reuters correspondent in Moscow says five Red' Army columns are advancing against Smolensk over the semi-circle running from north to south. The Germans are reported to be evacuating Katyn, 15 miles west of Smolensk. "Another 430 inhabited places were occupied by the Russians during the day," states to-night's Russian communique. ' Advances up to 13 miles were made on all offensive fronts. The big district centres of Tsarichanka, Kasilki and Richitolvila were captured in the Poltava region. Only small advances were made on the Smolensk sector, but Karelli, seven miles north-east of Smolensk, was taken." German overseas radio says the Germans are systematically evacuating heavy equipment, important installations and civilians from their Kuban bridgehead.