BIG GAP

Grey River Argus, 21 October 1943, Page 5

BIG GAP

IN GERMAN LINE AT DNIEPER BEND Huge Russian Circling Plan LONDON, October 19. A Soviet communique stated:— Russian forces continued on the offensive south-east of Kremenchug, breaking enemy resistance. They advanced nine to twelve miles, captured the town and important railway junction of Pyatikhatki and over 100 inhabited localities. By a powerful thrust they cut the very important Dnepropetrovsk - Zenana railway and took tremendous booty. According to incomplete data, the .Russians captured in this battle fifteen troop trains, thirty tanks including Tigers, 172 guns, 600 machine guns, 1300 lorries, many dumps, also 1800 prisoners. Despatches from Moscow sav that Russian forces are threatening the German divisions pocketed in the Dnieper loop, and are lighting a way round in a broad sweep from the Kremenchug gap. They are at one p'oint less than 12 miles from the main westward railway from Dnepropetrovsk to Byelayaserkov. Fighting in this area has reached more open country beyond the range of , hills on which the defences of the smashed German winter line were based. The Germans are being steadily forced back. The German News Agency stated German forces withdrew 12 miles from positions north-west of Dnepropetrovsk to a new “holding line.” The Germans were forced to give ground by new concentrations of numerous Russian motorised tank forces. , ’ , A Moscow report said the defences of the Germans at Melitopol still bar a Russian break-through at the southern end of the Dnieper front, but were being reduced yard by yard. GERMANS FORCED BACK AT DNIEPER BEND. (Rec. 7.0) LONDON, Oct. 19. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: A crisis point is near along the entire Dnieper River front. Shaken German units are rolling back southward from the Vital Kremenchug sector A Russian break-through there was swiftly extended to railways, and the Russian offensive is gaining momentum, tanks and guns systematically blasting Germans from hurriedly reinforced strongpoints. Reuter’s correspondent also states that at Gomel the Germans continue a very stiff resistance. He comments: °A knowledge by the Germans that there is no position of equal strength behind them is adding a last element of desperation to their defence of Gomel. , . The Berlin radio commentator, Captain Sertorius. stated that the battle for the Dnieper Bend was increasing in fierceness. He emphasised that the Russians massed huge concentrations of men and armour to force a break;through. IMPORTANT RUSSIAN CAPTURE. (Rec. 1.5.) LONDON Oct 20 . Moscow radio stated: Pyatikhatki was taken from the Germans after extremely stiff fighting. The Germans, at the approaches to the town, threw in several divisions with tanks and ’planes. The Russians spared their forces until the enemy was exhausted. Then they struck successfully. A swift Russian attack bewildered and disorganised the Germans, broke them up into isolated, groups, and prevented them using their reserves. The significance of the victory at Pyatikhatki can hardly be exaggerated. It is one of the most important centres between Melitopol and Kiev. It connects Dnepropetrovsk with Krivoirog .and Kremenchug. RUSSIANS RUSH. THROUGH THE GAP. (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON. Oct. 20. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: Russian infantry and guns are pouring steadily in an increasing stream through a big gap torn in the German defences south-west of Kremenchug. This was the greatest victory the Russions scored since they crossed the Dnieper three weeks ago. The Russians’ capture of Pyatikhatki seriously threatens German forces inside the Dnieper Bend. ■ KIEV-GOMEL SECTOR LONDON. Oct. 19. Late Moscow reports describe as considerable the Russian gains in the great battle north of Kiev. A powerful Russian tank drive struck deep into the German lines north of Kiev. Another report stated Russian forces north of Kiev and south of Gomel improved their bridgeheads Vichy radio stated that although the Russians practically encircled Gomel the Germans are still putting up a resistance. A Moscow report stated the German defences at Gomel still bar a Russian break-through at the northern extreme of the Dnieper, but the German strongholds are slowly being reduced yard by yard and flattened to ruins, Threat to Kiev NOW MUCH GREATER ANXIETY IN BERLIN (Rec 10) LONDON, Oct. 20. North of Kiev Russian forces on Tuesday captured a strongly mortified defence point, Vishgorod, which is only six miles from Kiev s noi them outskirts. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says: A German spok yesterday, for the first time, hinted that relentless Russian pressure may force the Germans to withdraw from Kiev. The correspondent adds: The Russian drive south-east of chug is also causing the greatest anxiety in Berlin where it is open y said that the Russians are aiming at Odessa to outflank the Germans and to produce a new and much bigger “Stalingrad.” . Swedish correspondents say tension in Berlin is acute. CRIMEA EXIT CUT. ONLY ONE LEFT. (Rec. 1.10). LONDON, Oct. 20 Moscow “Red Star” says: “Russian forces after cutting the railway between Melitopol and Sebastopol, have now cut a highway linking Melitopol with the Crimea, leaving German forces in the Crimea only one outlet, the single-track railway over the Pekop Isthmus. This line was constructed shortly before the outbreak of the war. It runs as far as Kherson.

Thereafter Germany must use the ferry to cross the mile-wide Dnieper River. Polish Division MAKES DNIEPER CROSSING (Rec. 7.0) LONDON, Oct. 19. The Russian Press has published a statement that the First Polish Division. with the Russian Army, has crossed the Dnieper River. A message to Polish troops from an All-Slav Conference at Moscow, said: “You have to lay the foundation of a new Poland. The hour of Poland’s liberation is near.” Moscow “Izvestia” in a leading article says: “The Red Army is fighting for the Ukraine from Kiev, up to Lvov.” Lvov is in Poland. Mass Murders by Germans SOVIET ANNOUNCEMENT (Rec. 1.0) LONDON, Oct. 20. The Soviet Information Bureau at Moscow .announced: The Germans on one day during the occupation of Kharkov murdered more than fourteen thousand Russians. They drove thousands of men, women and children into a ditch near the city’s tractor works, and blew them up with mines. The Germans between Februarv and June in 1943 used a lethal gas lorry daily in towns in occupied Russia. '' They thus killed j seven thousand. In Krasnodar alone the Russians, it is stated, have established the names of Germans responsible for crimes.