TWOFOLD PURPOSE

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

TWOFOLD PURPOSE

SOVIET ATTACK ON CITY Rec. 11.15 a.m. RUGBY, Sept. 13, A twofold purpose marks the Russian operations in the Bryansk area, according to London commentators. ( Now within 12 miles of the city and outflanking it to north and south, the Russians first wish to capture it because, although its importance as_ a centre of communications has diminished, it is still an important German base. Secondly, they wish to pin down the maximum number of Germans and prevent their removal to the south to assist in the Konotop-Zaporozhe areas. The advance in the Konotop area , has slowed down in the past two days, / but in view of the enormous distances covered by the Russians recently, they probably feel the necessity of building up before a new thrust. In the south, the Russian advance to the loop of the Dnieper and Zaporozhe has been rapid. The going her"c should be good in the open steppes with no obstacles and good tank country. If the Russians have superiority in tanks.and air cover—both seem likely —there is every reason to believe that they will soon be in a position to cut the railway to Zaporozhe from the Crimea.

There is no sign yet of any evacuation . from the Crimea or the Taman bridgehead, but the Russians are attacking here to pin down the Germans with the object of making their exit as difficult as possible.—B.O.W.

POWER OF SOVIET GUNS

LONDON, September 12.

"What surprises'you about the Russian barrages is to find yourself alive at the end of them," said a German officer on leave from the Eastern Front speaking over Berlin radio. He added: "The Russians usually give pur lines three one and a-half hour barrages daily. We then, with ears deafened, eyes inflamed, and covered with mud, watch for Russian tanks. It is not surprising that" under these conditions they are often able to break through at various points. "Often .when we emerge from our dugouts, we have immediately to start hand-to-hand fighting. These barrages strain the nerves of all of us to the utmost."

GERMAN ANXIETY

LONDON, September 13.

The Germans are showing anxiety about their bridgehead in the Kuban. Today they reported fighting inside the Black Sea port of Novorossisk, but there is no confirmation of this in Moscow.