NAZI STRONGHOLDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 65, 14 September 1943, Page 5

NAZI STRONGHOLDS

NUMBERS NOW THREATENED (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Eec 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Sept. .13. The Russian offensive is moving towards a new climax, according to dispatches from Moscow. A number of German strongholds on an 800-mile front are now directly, threatened. Bryansk, which is the hinge of the southern and central fronts, is now under shellfire and the Russians, makin? a frontal attack, captured the Bryansk railway junctions and are closing on the city. Approximately half a mile separates the two Bryansk rail junctions which are on the east bank of the Desna River with Bryansk itself on the west aQn' the southern front, moving forward between Chaplmo and Berdyansk, the Russian line at its centre is nearing an important railway junction commanding the routes to Zaporozne and the Crimea. The Russians are now only 70 miles east of Zaporozhe and less than 50 miles from Berdyansk. The Russians, who have been retarded by stubborn German resistance in the Sumy-Zenkov area, cut the Gomel-Kremenchug railway after forcing the Psiol River. _ Berlin radio admits that the Russian landing force wnich established a bridgehead in the Novorossisk area three days ago is still fighting. - Berlin radio made tne first mention of the autumn rains in Russia when it claimed the weather was hampering the fighting west of Kharkov. The British United Press military writer says that, given the normal Russian autumn, the Germans cannot hope for a lull in the fighting as the result of the weather for at least three weeks. The Ukrainian roads are unlikely to become impassable for heavy vehicles until the first "week in October. A lull normally continues for nearly four weeks and the ground begins to freeze in November.

This year the Russians' communication position may enable more mobile units to cut through the German lines and break the forces into small pockets. The Russians, this autumn, might be able to take advantage of the position if they are able to pin down the Germans against the Dnieper by the end of September. \

The Russian break-through, in the Byeiqorod area earlier this summer was made in heavy rain which forced th 2 Russians to advance knee-deep in water in some areas. "The Times" Stockholm correspondent says that the Bryansk position increasingly resembles that of Orel before the fall. Reports suggest that the Germans have moved much material from the Bryansk base apparently initiating an evacuation to avoid encirclement.