LIMITED SOVIET PRESSURE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 11, 8 October 1943, Page 5

LIMITED SOVIET PRESSURE

Increasing Rains

RUSSIANS EAGER TO PUSH ON

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON; October G. Though the rain has appreciably slowed down the tempo of the Russian offensive on tlie White Russian front just when there were good prospects ot capturing Vitebsk and Gomel, and correspondents report that the weather is steadily becoming worse, the Red Army is still on the offensive. Tlie Berlin radio commentator, Captain Sertoritts, declared that it may,be premature to say that the Russian offensive has definitely come to a close. Tonight’s Soviet communique says: “There were no serious changes today along the whole front.” The Moscow. correspondent ot the British United Press reports that the Russians made a small advance on the Vitebsk sector today, but that the lighting was on a small scale compared with the battles of the last few weeks. Hie Red Army is within 25 miles of X itebsk, and is threatening Lesno (20 miles southeast of Vitebsk ou the railway linking that city and Smolensk) from points 10 miles north and south of the railway. Attacks Near Leningrad.

Berlin radio declared that the Russians on the Leningrad front made eight powerful attacks and on the Volkhov sector launched an attack in great strength. The radio claimed that all the attacks were repulsed. . The Moscow correspondent of me Times” reports that the Russians are consolidating before the outlying defences of Mogilev and Gomel, but that dense thickets and deep forests and also the numerous tributaries of the Dnieper and the Dvina are adding to the Red Army s problems- in advancing toward X itebsk. The enemy is expected to carry out a stubborn defence of Vitebsk, which may prove to be one of the toughest nuts the Red Army has to crack. “The Times” correspondent adds: “Vitebsk .means as much for the safety of the German northern armies, as Melitopol means to the Germans who ,remain in the Crimea. The news agency in Moscow says: ‘lf the Germans think the autumn will give them a chance to rest and concentrate in other war theatres they are gravely mistaken,’ but for the most part it is evident that the weather has imposed a lull on the eager Russians.” , No reports are forthcoming from Moscow regarding the fighting on the middle ■Dnieper or on the south front, but correspondents emphasize that both sides are taking advantage of the involuntary pause to regroup for the resumption of the titanic battle with large mechanized units. Vast Guerrilla Land. Reuter says that Red Army sappers are working day and night converting the captured ports for use against the enemy and laying minefields against possible counter-attacks. The Germans are utilizing the cessation by continuing to rush up reinforcements, particularly on the Vitebsk and Gomel sectors. Messages speak of a vast area in White Russia covering some 600 villages being completely in the control of Soviet guerrilla troops. The Soviet bombers are paying particular attention to the XVhite Russian sectors of the Leningrad-Vitebsk-Odessa railway, the cutting of which is the Red Army’s next major objective. A supplementary Soviet communique states that aircraft of the Black Sea fleet sunk on October 5 an enemy transport of 2000 tons, two torpedo-carrying cutters, and four barges loaded with German troops.