RED ARMY’S SUCCESS

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22153, 27 September 1943, Page 5

RED ARMY’S SUCCESS

SPRINGBOARD FOR OFFENSIVE (Received Sept. 27, noon) LONDON, Sept. 26 With Smolensk, the Germans’ greatest communication base on the central front, overrun, and, according to the newspaper Moscow News, “The German plunderers already fleeing from Kiev like rats from a sinking ship,’’ the Red Army is already able to turn the Dnieper river from a defence barrier into a springboard for a further offensive movement.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that small bridgeheads are believed to have been established on the west bank of the Dnieper between Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk. The main Russian forces are trying to extend and consolidate bridgeheads in the face of the fiercest artillery and mortar barrage. Russian paratroops landed at the

rear of the German lines in the middle Dnieper area, according to the German news agency, which adds: “The Russians are throwing not only divisions but whole armies into the fight, which is a battle of material on a gigantic scale.” Grim Attacks on Kiev The Red Army is grimly investing Kiev. A force from the north-east is striking down between the Desna and Dnieper rivers. A force from Nyejin is frontally assaulting the city, while a third force is working up the Dnieper River from the south. Reuter says that the Germans are counter-attacking six times daily, but there is no evidence that the enemy is able to hold up the attackers. Tonight’s Soviet communique says: The Russians reached the Dnieper River at a number of places in the Kiev’, Kremenchug and Dnepropetrovsk sectors. The Russians south of Smolensk advanced from 8 to 15 miles and captured the district centre of Khotin. In the Vitebsk sector north-west of Smolensk, the Red Army advanced from 4 to 7 miles. A total of 770 inhabited places were occupied during the day. The communique adds: The Red Army in the Kuban area captured several places, including Perenkovo. Today’s German communique claims that a Russian landing attempt on the Sea of Azov coast ended with the complete destruction of the landing force. •