Tension in Berlin

Grey River Argus, 25 October 1943, Page 5

Tension in Berlin

GIGANTIC BATTLE EXPECTED (Rec. 9.45) LONDON, Oct, 24. The German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau, .at Stockholm, quotes military circles in Berlin as saying that German leadership must be expected to squeeze every ounce of strength from the soldiers in order to hold their positions and avoid a catastrophe of great proportions. It adds that, huge Russian and German forces are massing for a gigantic battle. Developments in Russia are viewed by Berlin with the tautest nerves. The German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau also says:— There are officials sitting in Berlin with watches in. hand, awaiting a gigantic new Russian offensive which they are expecting in the Kremenchug sector. The Germans knew that the Russians would not advance until they had their flanks secured. The Russians have now achieved this, and German soldiers .are bracing themselves for a new storm of fire and steel. BATTLE NORTH OF KIEV (Rec. 6.30) LONDON. Oct. 23. The great battle for Kiev is continuing with undiminished ferocity. 'in the central and upper Dnieper areas, the Russians have extended their bridgeheads and have captured several more strongpoints, increasing the threat to Gomel, the southern German bastion in White Russia.

All enemy reports reaching Stockholm refer to violent fighting west of Chernigov, midway between Gomel and Kiev.

The Germans on the north side of Kiev are launchins fanatical coun-ter-attacks, with picked divisions, in the hope of staving off a disaster in that sector. Russians there are standing firm at all points. They gained fresh ground in a'few nlaces. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: German forces before Kiev are throwing into the fighting line bandsmen, supply troops, and security police. They seem to machine-gun whole groups of German soldiers attempting to retreat,” states the correspondent. “The approaching Russian threat has given the signal for a' new wave of terrorism within the i city. Night after night the sound 'of volleys on the outskirts of the city tells of more Soviet citizens dying before German firing squads.” The German News Agency has reported powerful new Russian attacks in the Pereyslavl area, where the Red