MORE GERMANS BEING FORCED INTO DNIEPER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 230, 28 September 1943, Page 3

MORE GERMANS BEING FORCED INTO DNIEPER

REDS SURGE FORWARD

Fierce Flank And Frontal

Attacks

N.Z. Press Association —Copyright Rec, 1.30 p.m. LONDON, Sept 27. As the Russians on the east bank of the Dnieper surge forward, more and more Germans are being forced into the river, and many German bodies are floating down towards the battlefields farther southAlong the whole front from west of Smolensk to south of Dnepropetr rovsk the Germans have reached positions where any further retreat in one sector will menace the entire line, says Reuters correspondent in Moscow. Between Kiev and Kremenchug the Russians are doing their utmost to extend and reinforce their small bridgeheads high on the west bank of the Dnieper. A decisive struggle is going on along the east bank of the river on the outskirts of Kiev. The Russians are wearing down German pockets around Kremenchug by flank attacks and frontal attacks. One Russian column, auvancing against Kremenchug from the north, is less than 20 miles distant. . . _. . •„ Fifty Russian 1 divisions are driving in three main sections ag £™?s White Russia, imperilling the heait of the new German line and the vital bases of Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel, which are the gates to MinsK. Heavy Duels Across River The Russians are making many simultaneous thrusts, some ofvfnicn undoubtedly are feints des«nedto divide the Germans and diffuse tneu Russian and German artillery are engaged in heavy duejs across; uw river and the Red Air Force is ham mering the German defencesThere are five e^ Kiev and Zaporozhe which carry railways and main roads. «w "" yet known whether the Germans have blown them up or whet hope to retain protective bridgeneaas o:i the east bank . ctiffenine German resistance IS stmeniii| west of Gomel, where the engmy w employing considerable tanK infantry reinforcements- , The Russians are striving for the maximum progress while the goou weather lasts and before the rams convert the marshes east of uiei nigov into impassable bogs. • hine • The German.propaganda machine has switched to the " ne ha l hat en deo great Russian advance has enoea except at a few points K cmm that the German withdrawals, wei timed to reach defensive points on the Dnieper before the ram and muo bogs down heavy transport. The Germans admit that the sians crossed the Dnieper at aiew points, but claim that the boviei troops have been liquidated, wnue the Germans are still ho ding.on to their bridgeheads east of_the iiverOslo radio states that Berlin news papers say: "The present movement is only of a temporary nature. At the right time defensive tactics will.be succeeded by a strong offensive, in which German ran and infantry will again storm tor ward on a wide front.

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