LULL IN RUSSIA

Evening Star, Issue 24989, 7 October 1943, Page 5

LULL IN RUSSIA

RED ARMY HINDERED BY RAINS ATTACKS IN LENINGRAD AREA REPORTED (Rec. 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 6. To-night's Soviet communique says: "No serious changes occurred to-day along the whole front." '., 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, correspondents report that the weather is steadily worsening, the Red army is still on the offensive. The Berlin radio commentator. Captain Sertorius, declared that it may he premature to say the Russian offensive had definitely come to a close. The British United Press Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians to-day made a small advance in tlie Vitebsk sector, hut righting was on a small scale compared with the battles of the last few weeks. The Red amy is now within 25 miles of Vitebsk. The Russians are threatening Lesno (A) miles south-east of Vitebsk on the railway linking that city and Smolensk) from points 10 miles north and south, ot the railway. ~,.,." xi_ ■ The Berlin radio declared that the Russians on the Leningrad front made eight powerful attacks, and mthe Volkhov sector launched an attack in great strength. The radio claimed that all the attacks were repulsed. 'The Times"' Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians are consolidating before the outlying defences ot Mohilev and Gomel, hut dense thickets, deep forests, and the numerous tributaries of the Dnieper and the Dvma are adding to the Red Army's problems in advancing towards Vitebsk, ihe enemy is expected 'stubbornly to defend Vitebsk, which may prove one of the toughest nuts the Red army has had to crack. , . ■ ' ; ' The Times * adds: " Vitebsk means as much for the safety of the northern German armies as Melitopol means to the Germans remaining in the. Crimea." The 'Moscow News' 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 mosi; 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 the south front, but correspondents emphasise that both sides are taking advantage of ±he involuntary pause to regroup for a resumption of the titanic battle with large mechanised units. Reuter says Red army sappers are working day and night converting the captured forts 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 on the Vitebsk and Gomel sectors.