GERMANS MAY WITHDRAW ON BALTIC FRONT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 10, 7 October 1943, Page 5

GERMANS MAY WITHDRAW ON BALTIC FRONT

Need For Shortening Of Line

BEING FORCED BACK SLOWLY IN WHITE RUSSIA

(By Telegraph.-—Press Assn. —Copyrlght-i LONDON, October 5. Reuter says that front-line dispatches report Russian progress toward all three key points on the White Russian front. The offensive against the German bastions of Vitebsk-Mogilev and Gomel continues in the altered conditions produced by a fortnight s rain which has turned the war of movement into a war of position. The Germans are now fighting on the outer defences of their strongest line in Russia and temporarily are in less danger of rapid encirclement by the Red Army. The Nazis are counter-attacking vigorously, but only on narrow sectors.

The possibility of a German retirement to a shorter line in the northern sector of the Russian front is discussed by military observers in London (says British Official Wireless). It is thought that the Germans may decide to withdraw their left flank resting on the Gulf of Finland to -the River Narva just north of Lake Peipus, on the Es■tonian border, and thereby shorten the front foy about 100 miles, in addition to having 80 miles of the new front covered by Laike Peipus.

However, (by doing this the Germans would finally release Leningrad, which they are still aible to shell heavily from short range. German sources today mention a renewal of activity on the Leningrad front, Where large Russian troop moveifnents are reported.

Decree in Baltic States. A correspondent of “The Times” says that the Germans are now showing that they expect the Russians to advance much closer to the 1939 frontier, specially in the Baltic States. The Germans are instructing the Baltic peoples how -to act in an emergency when all manpower, and woman-power will (be mobilized. The formation of local Home Guards, including boys aged 16 for possible action against “Bolshevik bands” has been ordered. Tonight’s Soviet communique says that the [Russians in the Vitebsk direction fought local engagements and occupied 46 inhabited places. It adds that there was lively reconnaissance activity and exchanges of artillery fire on other fronts. . The Germans admit local Russian breakthroughs in violent fighting on both sides of the Orsha-iSmolensk railway. This is one of the routes to White Russia.

The Soviet High Command’s objective is continued attack and continued pressure against the enemy’s constant retreat westward, says ißeuter. 'Front-line troops are now moving forward .iu half-mile jumps on narrow sectors instead of five to 10 miles daily on -a 50-mile front. It is a tribute to the determination and energy of the (Red- Army that the summer offensive -was prolortged sufficiently for the (Russian troops to complete the occupation of the Dnieper line. The fighting has now entered on the autumn stage, which normally should have begun several weeks ago.

West of the Dnieper. Continued mention in the German communiques of (Russian attacks where the River Pripet meets the Dnieper is regarded as a sign that the (Russians are across the Dnieper in that area. If they have established themselves in strength there a descent (behind- Kiev might be feasible. The German news agency has given the first indication of an extensive Red Army penetration west of the Dnieper. The agency claimed that the Germans recaptured Chernobyl in an attack by armoured and motorized forces. Chernobyl is near the junction of the,Pripet and Ush Rivers, 40 miles south-west of Chernigov and 10 miles west of the Dnieper. Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorius,’ after saying that the Russians are trying to widen the Dnieper bridgeheads, claims that the stabilization of the situation in the past few days will actually result in increased German resistance.

“The German command, obviously regarded the Dnieper as the last line for a disengaging .movement. Melitopol is included in the main battle line for the cover of the Crimea,” he said. “In the sector between Melitopol and Zaporozhe there is ouly local activity. However, renewed concentrations (behind the enemy lines point to the possibility of a speedy resumption of large-scale Russian attacks.”

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Russian offensive is not yet over, but its character lias been changed by the nature of the terrain and (he weather.

(Reports from Germany emphasize the attempts to leave ouly a scorched, unpeopled country for the advancing Russians. It is claimed that Kremenchug’s population has been removed, but this is probably based- on intentions rather than fact, says “The Times” _ 'Stockholm correspondent. There is little doubt that the Germans had not the capacity to remove hurriedly people who had not been moved earlier.