Nazis In Dire Straits Along The Whole Front

Northern Advocate, 2 October 1943, Page 5

Nazis In Dire Straits Along The Whole Front

LONDON, October 1

Berlin radio today said that the Russians west of Roslovl have launched a new outflanking manoeuvre. Very hard, fluctuating fighting has occurred on both sides of Smolensk highway. One locality changed hands three times within 24 hours. The Germans finally withdrew west from this locality.

Reds Heading For White Russia

The Germans are rushing up reinforcements to the main White Russian front strong-points of Orsha, Mohilev and Gomel, which the Russians are dangerously threatening. Nevertheless 1 reports from Moscow indicate no slackening in the Russians’ systematic advances and closing in around the outer defences of Orsha.

A correspondent of the British United Press says that Orsha is the Germans’ main central front air base, also the most important rail and road junction and keypoint in the great SCO-mile defence line from Vitebsk to Gomel, barring the way to Minsk, which is the capital of White Russia. Russian spearheads are only 100 miles from Minsk itself. Three-Pronged Attack Proceeding After capturing Krichev, the Russians are 50 miles from Mohilev. The Red Army around Gomel is only a few miles from the city, and the correspondent says that the familiar tactics of the three-pronged advance from north, east and south are likely soon to result in Gomel’s fall. The majority of supply-lines from Gomel are already believed to be cut. Twelve-Mile Advance Tonight's Soviet communique deals only with the White Russian front, where advances up to 12 miles in the Mohilev sector, and nine miles in the Gomel sector, are recorded. The Russians, after forcing the Soj River', captured Cherikov, 50 miles south-east of Mohilev, and 340 other inhabited places. Some 200 localities have been freed in the Gomel sector. In the Vitebsk sector the town of Tierezino and 20 other places have been taken.

Whole German Line in Danger Moscow correspondents have been emphasising that further Russian success on the White Russian front may affect the whole German line ns far as Leningrad. The Commander-in-Chief of the German naval forces in the Gulf of Finland (Admiral Boehm), speaking over Berlin radio, said: “The Russian Baltic fleet is threatening the German northern flank, which is based on the Gulf of Finland.

Russian Baltic Fleet Active

“The Russian Baltic fleet is constantly attacking German naval forces in the Gulf of Finland, which is a covering belt for the German northern flank. The Russians are also trying to achieve naval supremacy in the Gulf of Finland, thereby preventing supplies from reaching islands in the Gulf of Finland which are still in our hands.” Reuter's Moscow correspondent reports that the battle for the Dnieper over a 400-mile front is in full swing. Thousands of guns, from a point above Kiev to below Zaporozhe, have opened up a mighty artillery duel. Fierce battles are being fought at the gates of Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk, where the Germans are stoutly resisting. Weather Helping Germans

Berlin radio’s military commentator (Captain Sertorius) said that stiffening of German resistance which was evident in some sectors at the beginning of the week has become more pronounced, particularly in the southern sector. The enemy yesterday, between Zaporozhe and Melitopol further increased his efforts to break through to the Dnieper and Crimea. Captain Sertorius added: “The Russians threw in three fresh armies, comprising over 15 divisions, six tank brigades and considerable artillery which is facing our bolt positions. The rains have made roads more difficult between Gomel and the SmolenskMinsk highway, and are slackening up enemy attacks. Reds Speeding Up Drive

The Red Army, speeding up to drive nto White Russia, is now threatening ;he whole German line from Vitebesk ;o Gomel.

The capture of Cherikov reveals that the Russians must have advanced 15 miles from Krichev, which was captured yesterday. A later report of the capture of Ryanza, 30 miles - east of Mohilev, shows that the Russians are flattening out the German salient in this area and straightening their own line.