DNIEPER CROSSING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 7, 4 October 1943, Page 5

DNIEPER CROSSING

Enemy Reports Fighting On West Bank (.British Official Wireless.)

(Received October 3, 8.40 p.m.) RUGBY, October 2.

It seems uncertain whether the Russians have crossed -the Dnieper. Enemy reports' speak of fighting on the west bank, for ex'ample in the bend between Pereyaslavl and Kanev, 50 miles below Kiev. Whether .these are true, it is at any rate thought doubtful that strong bridgeheads have been obtained. Certainly, Soviet, accounts mention no crossing and it would be surprising if the victorious Russians were yet in a position to resume their advance. Behind them are ravaged areas and ruined communications and in front for nearly 400 miles is a wide river with high opposite banks commanding Hie Russian side and surrounded in some places with marshes.

Above Kiev, however, the Russians are still steadily closing in toward the liOmiles stretch, of the Dneip.er between the confluence of the River Soj, below. Gomel, to Orsha, where the Dneiper makes a right-angle bend. They have another 30 or 40 miles to go in this sector, and it is possible that the Germans may try to dispute east of the Dneiper any further Russian approach to such important land and air bases as Orsha, Mogilev, Rogachev and Gomel. The position about Orsha is particularly vital for the Germans, as between there and Vitebsk no river line favours their defence. Uncertainty also exists about the situation between Zaporozhe and the Sea of Azov, where the Germans report strong Russian pressure, specially round Melitopol. The Germans hold the east bank round Zaporozhe and this sector has not figured in Soviet communiques for some time, but a further offensive seems probable. It may be a sign of Soviet intentions that Dzankoi station, on the, main railway through the Crimea, to Melitopol, has several times been visited by Russian bombers lately.