TEMPO SLOWED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1943, Page 6

TEMPO SLOWED

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

WEATHER STEADILY WORSE [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) Rec. 1.45 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 6. Although rain has appreciably slowed down the tempo,of the Russian offensive on the White Russian front just when there were good prospects of capturing Vitebsk and Gomel, and correspondents report that the weather is steadily becoming worse, the Red Army is still on the offensive. The Berlin radio commentator, Captain Sertorius, declared that it may be premature to; say that the Russian offensive has definitely come to a close. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press reports that the Russians made a small advance in the Vitebsk sector today, but that the fighting was on a small scale compared with the battles of the last few weeks. The Red Army is now within 25 miles Df Vitebsk. The Russians are threatening Lesno (20 miles south-east of Vitebsk on the railway linking that city and Smolensk) from points 10 miles north and south of the railway. Berlin radio declared that the Russians on the Leningrad front made eight powerful attacks and in the Volkhov sector launched an attack in great strength. The radio claimed that all the attacks were repulsed. RED- ARMY PROBLEMS. The Moscow correspondent of "The Times" .reports that the Russians are consolidating before the outlying defences of Mogilev and Gomel, but that dense thickets and , deep forests and also numerous tributaries of the Dnieper and the Dvina are adding to the Red Army's problems in advancing towards Vitebsk. The enemy is expected to stubbornly defend Vitebsk, which may prove to be one of the toughest nuts the Red Army has to crack. ■ "The Times" correspondent adds: "Vitebsk means as much for. the safety of the German northern armies as Melitopol means to the Germans who remain in the Crimea. The news from Moscow says: 'If the Germans think the autumn will give them a chance to rest and concentrate in other war theatres they are gravely mistaken,' but for the most part it is evident that the weather has imposed a lull on the eager Russians." No reports are forthcoming from Moscow regarding the fighting on the middle; Dnieper or on the south front, but correspondents emphasise that both sides are taking advantage of the involuntary pause to regroup for the resumption of the titanic battle with large mechanised units. Reuter says that Red Army sappers are working day and night converting captured ports for use against the enemy and laying minefields against possible counter-attacks. The Germans are utilising the cessation by continuing to rush up reinforcements, particularly in the Vitebsk and Gomel "sectors. '■'■'.■'

Tonight's Soviet communique says: "There were no serious changes today along the whole front."