SURPRISE INDICATED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 12, 9 October 1943, Page 5

SURPRISE INDICATED

German Account Of Nevel Battle LONDON, October 7.. Berlin radio announced that Soviet forces, after tierce fighting, penetrated the German lines north of Nevel. “The Russians used strong tank, infantry and air formations, their objective being Nevel,” it stated. “Extremely fierce and fluctuating fighting developed in great depth owing to the character of the terrain. “The Russians, in spile of heavy losses, threw in formations repeatedly. A strong tank group accompanied the infantry and broke into the German lines north of Nevel. The struggle with these forces continued all night long.” The German military commentator, Captain Sertorious, said: “The Russians’ attack is in accord with the habit of surprisingly shifting the centres of gravity of their moves. It cannot yet be said whether the Russians have sufficient reserves to sustain the attack. Should the reserves be adequate, it must be presumed that the Russians aim at cutting the north-south railway from Leningrad to Vitebsk as an immediate objective, while the long-term objective would be a break-through in the direction of the Dvina. “There is a further possibility that the attack has a large-scale diversionary or holding value. Meanwhile the Russians have achieved a few infiltrations.” Violent fighting flared up again yesterday on the north sector of the Russian front, where huge troop movements had been observed for several days, says Vichy radio. The Russians attacked in the morning, aiming to cross the Volkhov on a broad front. They gained a foothold, but were forced back by artillery.

According to Paris radio, the Russians attacked eight times west of Leningrad, but the Germans claim that the attacks were, repulsed. The Russians are regrouping in the Zaporozhe and Melitopol areas, where large-scale troop concentrations foreshadow renewed Red Army activity.