Russian Troops Swarming Across Dnieper River

Northern Advocate, 29 September 1943, Page 3

Russian Troops Swarming Across Dnieper River

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, September 28

The struggle for the Dnieper crossings is developing into an extended battle along the whole 300-mile stretch of river from Kiev to Zaporozhe in which the Red Army is aided by mass assaults from Soviet planes. The Russians have a firm grip on the east bank of the Dnieper on wide stretches, but the fiercest fighting is going on in some sectors fqr the remaining bridgeheads. Latest front-line reports state that the Red Army has established a bridgehead on the west bank between Kiev and Cherkasy, but there is no official confirmation so far.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that three Russian forces have begun crossing the river opposite Dnepropetrovsk where Berlin radio tonight admitted that the Russians have launched a large-scale attack. Reuter says that assault forces of a Russian crack Guard unit are swarming across the remains of two railway j bridges spanning the river. The Russians are also using small islands as stepping-stones for the assault which is covered by a shuttle service of fighter planes and a heavy artillery barrage. Meanwhile, at other two key bridgeheads —opposite Kiev and at Kremenchug—the Germans have brought up fresh divisions. German Resistance Wearing Down

Reuter adds that the Germans have also increased air support using a tremendous concentration of artillery, bur their resistance is gradually wearing down.

Kremenchug on the oast bank of the Dnieper is being taken into the steadily narrowing grip. The Russians are closing in from the- north-east where they are only five miles distant, also from the jeast and north. j The German News Agency reported tonight that the Russians are attempting to occupy in strength, some of the Dnieper islands north of Kiev and are also en- ! deavouring to build a pontoon bridge j under cover of night. j Meanwhile the Red Army’s advance jinto White Russia which is termed the ! key to Poland and the Baltic states, is i assuming triumphal proportions, states I Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. "Only four days after the capture of Smolensk, ! thousandsof Russians are advancing on !a front of over 200 miles, well on the j road to the key towns of Mohilev, Orsha [and Vitebsk, three vital points in the advance towai'ds Minsk, capital of White Russia and anchor of the old Minskodessa line,” the correspondent says. At the southern end of the long front, the German News Agency reported a fierce battle on th 6 outskirts of the suburb of Melitopol. The news agency claimed that Russian attacks had been held in violent defensive fighting. The agency also reported a new Russian attack in the Kuban bridgehead where the Russians attempted to land reinforcements south of the Taman Peninsula. Paratroop Army Ready Tonight’s Soviet communique records advances up to 13 miles in the Kremenchug direction in which Potoki, five miles north-east, and Rublevka, 12 miles northwest of Kremenchug. were captured. In the Gomel direction the Russians advanced six to nine miles and took Zyabrevka, 14 miles south-east, and Krasnayagora, 45 miles north-east of Gomel, Advances up to 15 miles were made in the Mohilev direction and 12 miles in Vitebsk direction, excluding a “large number" of inhabited places captured on the left bank of the Dnieper. The Red Army today freed over 1120 localities. Moscow radio said that Soviet planes of all types are providing enormous assistance to troops at the approaches to the Dnieper. “They are intensifying the; blows against the Dnieper crossings to which the retreating Germans are rushing,” the radio said. Front-line reports say’ that a huge army of paratroops is forming up behind the Russian lines to loin in the battle for the Dnieper. ThiS| will be the first test for Russia’s great: parachute army, probably the finest in the world. Already some ot these paratroops have landed beyond the western bank of the Dnieper. They are contesting the German attempt to wipe out bridgeheads over the river established by Russian forces. Rain of Shells

Massive concentrations of Russian guns are hurling a continuous rain of shells across the Dnieper, softening up- the German lines for a number of thrusts which; are developing at widely separated, * Russian planes, shuttling across a narrow gap between the two armies, are, henvi& bombing the Gemaus. The Moscow correspondent ol ine British United Press reports that Russian paratroops have been landed on the west bank of the Dnieper at many points and are now attacking the German rear. Russian reports from the extreme southern front say that hope of escape •ire fading for all but a minority nt the Germans struggling to evacuate the Kuban. . . . ... German overseas radio claimed that evacuation of Temryuk, the last Germanheld Kuban point, was unnoticed by the Russians, The town was thoroughly demolished. ' , ~ An official announcement from Moscow late tonight reported the capture ol Katvn, IS miles west, of Smolensk, site of a mass grave of Polish officers. discovery” of which by the Germans was the subject of Russian and German charges and counter-charges, and also the cause of Russo-Polish friction. Penetration into White Russia The German lines on the White Russian front are already buckling dangeiously. The Russians, in battles raging dav * and night, have pressed to within less than 80 miles of Vitebsk, 70 miles ol Mogilev, and 80 miles from Gomel. According 1o Ankara radio, the Russians have penetrated White Russia at four places. ... The German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau, quoting a message from Berlin, said: ‘in a sensational German declaration contradicting previous statements from the same quarters, it was staled that heavy rains will not prevent large-scale operations on the eastern; front. The Russians and Germans have, new tanks and cars capable of moving through even the worst morasses." The 'German News Agency s military commentator, explaining the German retreat. says that the German High Command aimed at concentrating all forces for thi' next winter campaign and had directed all operations to this end. 10 Miles from Gomel The Russians are within 10 miles of Gomel on the east side and are closing in fast, savs Reuter's Moscow correspondent. Crack Guards units are storming Dnepropetrovsk- in a three-pronged thrust from the left bank. ‘•Rod Star” says that the Germans suffered heavily in the withdrawal across tin* Dnieper from the Dnepropetrovsk suburb of Nizhnidneprovsk. Fierce lighting has occurred for Nizhnidncprovsk where the Germans attempted to launch counter-attacks. "Izvestia" says that German reserves, brought long distances in an attempt to seal great gaps in the Dnieper line, are being thrown into battle without a rest. The' Germans are constantly counterattacking without success. Their reinorcements have already received a number of crushing blows. According to the Stockholm ‘‘Svenska Dagbladet's” Berlin correspondent, a military spokesman at the Wilhelmstrasse said it must not bo taken for granted that the Dnieper marks the line along which German troops will establish a last "ine of defence.