DRIVE TOWARDS DNIEPER

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24051, 13 September 1943, Page 5

DRIVE TOWARDS DNIEPER

Russians Advance On Broad Front

THREAT TO BRYANSK DEVELOPS (N.ZPA.-8.0.W.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12. The Russian offensive is still in motion on most sectors from north of Bryansk to the Sea of Azov, and in several places it is in rapid motion. The main spearhead is not only driving towards Kiev and the middle Dnieper, but is becoming broader and more solid as it goes. On the north flank of the offensive the Russians are threatening Bryansk from the south and simultaneously are advancing towards the city from the north. Bryansk is now in danger of envelopment.

On the south flank the central thrust also is being broadened towards Priluki and Romny. A second great drive, pointing towards the important cities of Zaporozhe and Dnepropetrovsk, also contains a serious double threat for the Germans on either flank. To the south they have been forced to retire precipitately from the river Kalmius and from Mariupol. To the north their whole laboriously constructed and desperately held positions south and south-west of Kharkov are now also endangered by the Russians’ advance on Pavlograd and Lozovaya.

Along the whole southern front the question of the defence of the Kuban and the Crimea is becoming daily more insistent. The latest reports put the Russians less than 40 miles from tiie Dnieper north of Zaporozhe, and there has been no sign of a check in the south Since Taganrog was captured nearly two weeks ago.

Yesterday’s Moscow communique says that the Russians in the Nyezhin direction have captured . the railway station of Pliski.

The British United Press points out that the capture of Pliski, which is on the Kursk-Kiev railway, brings the Russians within 12 miles of the last German-held lateral railway east of Kiev. This line, which runs south from Gomel through Kruty and then to Kremenchug, is the only railway the Germans have to switch troops north and south on the central sector anywhere near the front. The capture of Pliski means that the Russians have advanced 100 miles towards Kiev in less than a fortnight. There is no indication yet that the Germans are able to muster forces strong enough to stop the Russians’ great break-through between the central and southern fronts and halt what one Moscow correspondent calls “the biggest retreat in military history.” The Russians are over-running the Germans along a 120-mile front east of the Dnieper, .and are now within 30 miles, of the only railway from the Crimea. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, summing up the Russians’ success, says: “Last week was the greatest of the Russian summer offensive. The Red Army captured 55 major towns and 3000 smaller towns and villages.. The area cleared of Germans since September 1 equals one-third of the area of Italy. What was problematical a fortnight, ago now seems probable—the great Dnieper bend, , Kiev, and Smolensk are in sight. “The Germans in the southern Ukraine Continue to fall back -everywhere along a wide arc from Kharkov to the Sea of Azov. The Russians, pursuing them hotly, are not allowing the enemy time to lay minefields. “Advanced Russian units are now 15 miles from Pavlograd, Mobile Soviet detachments everywhere are breaking the German lines and causing complete confusion among the retreating Germans, who now have no organised defence positions before the Dnieper. The German pocket below Kharkov, which was badly punched by the loss of Barvenkova, is rapidly caving in, and the Russians are advancing, between Kharkov and Izyum, 30-miles west of Krasnograd. on the road to Poltava.” A German communique reports a new Russian landing in the Novorossiisk area-. The Germans claim to have sunk or set bn fire three gunboats, one patrol boat, and 11 landing craft, and they say they are now engaging the remnants of the landing force. It adds that German artillery has begun a bombardment to disrupt a largescale Russian offensive against the Kuban which has been under preparation for some days.

■ The communique also says that the Germans have evacuated Mariupol according to plan, after destroying all installations of military. imPortapce, i ,i. 7 The Soviet communique issued oa Friday night said: "Soviet troops today advanced successfully in the direction; of Pavlograd 15 to $1 miles and occupied the towns of Barvenkova, Chaplino, Petrovskoe, Petropavloka, Nezhivays, and over 140 inhabited places. ’ ' "West and south-west of Stalin Soviet troops continued to develop their offensive and advanced seven to 15 miles and occupied Mariupol. “North of Bryansk, Soviet troops advanced three to six miles and occupied 80 inhabited places. < "South of Bryansk they crossed the river Desna and occupied bn the west bank Kamen and Krimsky, Bugor. Fighting for the town of NovgorodSieversk is continuing. . "In the.direction of Prilukl Soviet troops advanced seven to 12 miles and occupied over 80 places. "South-west of Kharkov, Soviet troops are fighting offensively to, improve their positions. ' ' , "On Thursday Soviet troops on all fronts destroyed or disabled 76 aeroplanes, and 24 were shot down by airmen or anti-aircraft guns." • An order of thfe day to General Millnovsky and General Tolbukhin, issued shortly before this communique, said: “Qur troops of the south-west front continued their successful offensive and to-day occupied the town of Barvenkova and the town and important railway junction of Chaplino. Troops of the southern front, by a vigorous blow, occupied the most important junction, of the Transazov town of Volriovakha,. arid advancing along the coast of the Sea-of Azov, liberated a large centre of the metallurgical industry In the south, the town and port of Mariupol. This new success was achieved by Soviet troops of the southern front as a result of a skilful and daring manoeuvre by cavalry and mechanised units, which penetrated into the enemy rear.”