RUSSIAN AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1943, Page 3

RUSSIAN AIMS

BEARING OF THE ATTACK ON BRYANSK. ON OPERATIONS IN SOUTH. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, September 13. A two-fold purpose attends the Russian operations in the Bryansk area, according to London commentators. Now within 12 miles of the city and outflanking it on north and south, the Russians firstly wish to capture it because, although its importance as a centre of communications has diminished, it is still an important German base. Secondly, they wish to pin down a maximum number of Germans and prevent their removal south to assist in the Konotop-Zaporozhe areas. The advance in the Konotop area has slowed down during the past two days, but in view of the enormous distances covered by the Russians recently they probably feel the necessity of building up before making a new thrust. Irj the south the Russian advance to the loop of the Dnieper and Zaporozhe has been rapid and the going here should be good, in open steppes with no obstacles and good tank country. If the Russians have a superiority in tanks and in air cover —both seem likely—there is every reason to believe that they will soon be in a position to cut the railway to Zaporozhe from the Crimea. There is no sign yet of an evacuation from the Crimea or the Taman bridgehead, but the Russians are attacking here, to pin down the Germans, with the object of making their exit as difficult as possible.