THREAT TO KIEV

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1941, Page 5

THREAT TO KIEV

Pincer Movement DOGGED RUSSIAN RESISTANCE [British Official Wireless], RUGBY. Sept. 15. A serious threat to the Soviet forces in the Kiev sector is seen by military commentators in London, in the evacuation by the Russians of Kremenchug. on the eastern bank of the Dnieper, some 80 miles north-west of Dnepropetrovsk. Kremenchug, which lies on the east bank of the Dnieper about 160 miles ’’elow Kiev, is about the same distance south-west of Kharkov, second largest city of the Ukraine. Kremenchug is one of the few bridge-heads of the Lower Dnieper, and the German- threat here, in conjunction with that from Chernigov, about 80 miles north-east of Kiev, has left the Ukrainian capital in a dangerous position. It is not yet known whether the Germans have made any substantial progress beyond Chernigov. A new danger to the Russian armies has developed further south, where the Russians’ successive evacuation of Chernigov and Kremen•hug marks the development of a German pincer movement aimed at cnvelooine Kiev. Reuters Moscow correspondent says: Marshal Budennv’s forces, fighting doggedly, prevented the Germans continuing the advance after the capture oi Kremenchug, thus obstruct■ng the development of a pincers movement which is being aimed at Kharkov. A German communique says that as a result of the favourable progress of operations in the east the way is being cleared for a new successful battle. The German plan would appear to be to advance in a south-westerly direction from Cherignov which they recently captured, to join up with forces advancing north- east from (Kremenchug. If successful, this operation would result in the encirclement of Kiev, and destroy its communications with the rest of Russia. A fierce battle is raging in the rear of the Kiev defences. German Offensive LITTLE PROGRESS AROUND KIEV. (Rec. 10.40) LONDON, Sept. 16. Commentators in Berlin and Moscow are reticient regarding the lighting on the southern front. The Stockholm correspondent or the “Daily Telegraph ’ savs: Since the capture of Chernigov three days ago, General Von Bock has made little progress southwards towards meeting General Von Rundstedt’s movements to the northwards, with the aim of enc'rcling Kiev. ’ General Von Rundstedt is apparent - 1V now holding a front in the direction of Poltava, while he is thrusting a strong flanking force towards PnlukL

The materia] gains from the German capture of the town of Kremenchug are likely to be small, because the Soviet forces have ample time to wreck the factories, while the rich farms round the town would almost certainly have been devastated.