CHERNIGOV FALLS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 308, 23 September 1943, Page 7

CHERNIGOV FALLS

Russians Near Kiev And

Smolensk

DIRECT THREAT NOW TO dnepropetro V SIC LONDON, September 2 I. Three vital forties's towns, on which the entire German fiont hinges, are now directly threatened by the Russians—Smolensk, Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk. Today, the Russians captured Chernigov on the west bank of the lower Desna River, and in doing so have smashed through the last water barrier before the Dnieper line. They have begun closing the trap against Kiev, which is the anchor of 'the German hopes of a strong winter line in this sector. General Rokossovsky’s men had to force their way across the Desna and then fight southward in an outflanking movement, lhe Russian spearheads are now less than 25 miles from Kiev, and the advanced forces are beyond Slavgorod (half-way between Zaporozhe and Dnepropetrovsk), and are less than 10 miles from the Dnieper.

The Germans are making a desperate effort to concent rale their forces tor tile defence of Kiev, but there is little sign that they will be able to do more than tight a delaying action, for the Russians are now converging against tlie city from the east and from the north-east.

Guns thundered within, 18 miles of Smolensk today as the Russians softened up the defences and moved steadily and relentlessly against the German fortress.

The column nearest the city is advaucing along tlie main road from Kholm. The column from the Kalinin front is outflanking Smolensk from the north and moving down the Dvina Valley toward Vitebsk. The Germans are being forced buck on all fronts.

More big German withdrawals in Russia, possibly as fur as the Polish border, are indicated by the latest reports from Berlin, published in the Swedish Press. “Dagbladet’s” Berlin correspondent quotes authoritative Nazi circles for the statement that it would be a mistake to assume that the line the Germans are now taking up is to be the winter line. The present German aim is to form a buffer line, and it is too early yet to speak ot a winter line. . . This statement, says the British United Press Stockholm correspondent, is all the more startling since the Nazis are already stressing the gigantic scale of the present shortening of the front, which is sometiling far bigger than the previous smallscale withdrawals. Paris radio’s commentator, M. Jean Paquis, says the German retreat in Russia opens the last chapter of the war. It will probably be tlie bloodiest chapter, but Germany remains confident.

BY-PASS MANOEUVRE How Chernigov Fell

(British Ottieial Wireless.) RUGBY. September 21.

Announcing the capture ot the important north Ukrainian town of Chernigov, Marshal Stalin, in an order of the day, said : “Troops of tlie central front, continuing their violent offensive, successfully crossed the River Desna, and by a skilful by-pass manoeuvre after three days of fierce fighting, today took by storm the Ukraniau regional eeutre ot Chernigov, a most important centre ot the enemy defences in the lower part ot the Desna region. Thus the enemy s defence prepared on the western bank ot the Desua has been overcome on lhe entire length of the river. The enemy s plan to stem our advance on these Dost' tions must be considered frustrated.’ Tonight’s Russian communique, recording advances on all offensive fronts, reports that in the direction of Dnepropetrovsk tlie Russians captured the town and important railway junction of Sinelnikovo and Kotsevka, which is a district centre in'the Dnepropetrovsk region, also the railway station of Zaitsevo. Soviet troops made a general advance of from six to 10 miles in this area today and reoccupied over 80 towns and villages. Russian forces have pushed further along the Poltava-Kiev railway and have taken a station about 70 miles from Kiev. In the Poltava sector our allies advanced .10 miles at some points and more than 250 places are back in Russian hands, including several railway stations. Desperate Nazi Effort.

The Germans are trying hard to make a stand in front of Dnepropetrovsk, says the Moscow "Red .Star.” The Germans are forcing thousands of peasants to dig fortifications along hills and small rivers. ■The nearer the Russians approach the Dnieper the more determined the German resistance becomes. The country is studded with villages which the Germans have converted into strongpoints. They arc rushing artillery reinforcements to the most threatened points. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the. Russians are closing in on Dnepropetrovsk froin three sides. All the railways to Dnepropetrovsk from the east have been cut at comparatively short distances from the town. The Russians are advancing swiftly from Buiarovka, 20 miles north-east of Dnepropetrovsk. “Izvestia” says the Germans arc throwing in strong forces of tanks, motorized units, and mortars in defence of Siuclnikovo. They launched three determined counter-attacks on the flanks of the Red forces, but failed to cheek the momentum of the advance. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the big Dnieper bridgehead of Zaporozhe is isolated from Dnepropetrovsk by the severance of the 'railway at Slavgorod, about, half-way between the two towns. The Russians are less than 10 miles from the railway linking the Crimea with Zaporozhe, and it is now practically useless as an escape line. Terrific fighting is occurring between Kholm and Smolensk, says Reuter s Moscow correspondent. The Bed Air 1< orce is bombing and machineguaning the re_trenling German columns less than -J miles north-west of Smolensk. J his blow is developing very satisfactorily on a broad front. 'Pile Berlin news agency says that extraordinarily bitter close-range fighting is occurring on the Bryuiisk-Roslavl ro:id, mostly in the German outpost zone.

FREED BY RUSSIANS

(Received September 22, 11. p.m.) LONDON, September 22. Soviet forces in Ihe forest ureas between Bryansk and Chernigov freed 100,000 Soviet citizens whom the Germans were driving to Germany lor forced labour and also 20,000 on a sector ot the Poltava front.