MENACE TO GERMANS

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22190, 9 November 1943, Page 3

MENACE TO GERMANS

RUSSIANS' PROBABLE MOVES (Official Wireless? (Received Nov. 9, noon) RUGBY, Nov. 8 The probable direction of the Russian advance from Kiev forms the subject of considerable speculation by informed military quarters in London. There are two main possibilities—a drive south-west in the direction of the rivers Bug and Dniester, which would result in the Germans in the south being faced with even greater dangers, or a drive due west towards Lvov, with the Russians' right flank against the Pripet marshes, which would have possibilities of splitting the German front in two.

Whichever develops the Germans can only avoid a considerable lengthening of line and a consequent shrinking in available front-line manpower by pulling right out of the Dnieper bend. The prospects of the Russians being able to continue their rapid progress from Kiev seem excellent. They took the bridgehead over six weeks ago. Since then they have had the opportunity to build bridges, organise communications generally, and concentrate stores, ammunition and food on the west bank of the river beyond the range of the German guns and without much interference from the overstretched Luftwaffe.

Meantime it is known that the Germans have had to withdraw a number of divisions from the Kiev area in a vain attempt to hold the Russians in the south. These circumstances have given the Russians a preponderance of strength west of Kiev and the rapidity of the advance in the last 48 hours suggests that this preponderance is being well maintained.