THREAT TO ODESSA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1941, Page 5

THREAT TO ODESSA

ENEMY DRIVE SOUTH OF KIEV SOME NAZI CLAIMS DENIED. DNIEPER A SERIOUS OBSTACLE TO TANKS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.57 a.m.) RUGBY, August 8. Information reaching London is that there has been no change in the central and northern parts of the Russian front, but in the Ukraine there are indications that the German forces are making more progress south of Kiev, in a south-easterly direction from Bye-laya-Tserkov, parallel with the right bank of the Dneiper. The main railway communication between Kiev and Odessa has already been cut and the new move, which is regarded as a serious threat to the remaining railway running north from Odessa, appears to be aimed at cutting off Odessa and Nikolaev. The loss of these places, however, would not have any serious effect on the Russian position, whether on land or in the Black Sea. There is no confirmation of the German claim that they have surrounded Kiev and it is pointed out that the Dneiper is very serious obstacle for tanks, being a mile wide below Kiev, with very few bridges.