RAINS JAMPERING RED ARMY TACTICS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 290, 7 December 1943, Page 3

RAINS JAMPERING RED ARMY TACTICS

DNIEPER STRUGGLE Germans Attempting To Gain Initiative N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 6. The Germans are trying thenutmost to take advantage of the unfavourable weather of winter to halt the Soviet thrusts. The Russians, however, are pressing forward over slough-like roads. The British United Press Moscow correspondent points out that the persistence of the autumn rains is negativing the Red Army's cold weather equipment and tactics, enabling the Germans to make efforts to recapture the initiative and restore their Dnieper winter line before the Russians are able again to bring full pressure to bear. The Germans in White Russia and the Southern Ukraine are regrouping and pouring in reinforcements. The enemy's abortive attempt to reestablish his positions on the Dnieper delta are apparently part of this effort to recapture the initiative. The weather in White Russia and Southern Ukraine is still bogging down armour and grounding the Red Air Force, and unless the weather takes an unexpected turn no spectacular progress in the near future can be expected from the Red Army. Soviet Penetration Admitted Results are expected soon from the White Russian front, but even there until the marshes and rivers freeze the Russians are unable to exert their maximum striking power and utilise fully their special winter equipment.

Enemy sources emphasise that the latest Russian efforts are concentrated on the Dnieper bend. The German News Agency commentator, von Hammer, admits "deep Red Army penetration on the Dnieper bend." Later von Hammer stated the German troops inside the bend had disengaged in the face of new Russian attacks and withdrawn to the main defence line.

The capture of Alexandriya, southwest of Kremenchug, is announced in the Soviet night communique, which states that the Red Army north-west of Gomel is continuing the offensive and has occupied several inhabited places, and in the Chernyakhov area repelled strong tank and infantry attacks. The Russians south-west of Kremenchug captured' Alexandriya, thereby cutting the railway from Smyela to Snamenka, also 18 heavilyfortified strongpoints. Berlin radio's commentator. Captain Sertorius, declared Allied propaganda was attempting to explain the Russians' present comparative inactivity by hinting that a speciallyequipped winter army was ready to relieve the front-line troops. A sober observer would neither exaggerate nor belittle this possibility.