NEW CLIMAX

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1943, Page 4

NEW CLIMAX

APPROACHED IN SOVIET OFFENSIVE BRYANSK UNDER SHELLFIRE. THREAT TO CRIMEA RAILWAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. The Russian offensive is moving towards a new climax, say dispatches from Moscow. A number of German strongholds on the 800mile front are now directly threatened Bryansk, which is the hinge of the southern and central fronts, is now under shellfire. The Russians, making a frontal attack, captured the Bryansk railway junctions and are closing in on the city. Approximately half a mile separates the two Bryansk railway junctions, which are on the east bank of the Desna River, with Bryansk itself on the west bank. The southern front is moving forward between Chaplino and Berdyansk. The Russian line, at its centre, is nearing an important rail junction commanding the routes to Zaporozhe and the Crimea. The Russians .are now only 70 miles east of Zaporozhe, and less than 50 miles from Berdyansk. The Russians, who have been retarded by stubborn German resistance in the Sumy and Zenkov arc, have cut the GomelKremenchug railway, after forcing the Psiol River.

MUCH MATERIAL

BEING REMOVED BY GERMANS FROM BRYANSK. OREL PRECEDENT RECALLED. (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says the Bryansk position increasingly resembles that of Orel before its fall. Reports suggest that the Germans have removed much material from the Bryansk base, apparently initiating an evacuation to avoid encirclement. ’ Tonight’s Soviet communique states: “The Russians continued successfully to develop their offensive west of Stalino, in the Donbas, advanced 4 to 9 miles and captured, over 90 inhabited localities, including Bolshaya Yanisol, which is a district centre in the Stalino region. “The Russians in the Nezhin direction have advanced 6 to 12 miles and have occupied over 40 places, including the railway station of Kruty, 35 miles west of Bakhmach and a few miles east of Nezhin. They have also captured the district centre of Komaro. “The Russians in the Priluki direction have advanced 6 to 8 miles and occupied over 140 inhabited localities, including two railway stations.

“The Russians in the Roslovl direction have advanced 21- to 31 miles and captured over 40 places. “In the Bryansk direction we continued our successful offensive and advanced 6 to 9 miles and occupied over ‘3O places including Ivot, also the two Bryansk railway junctions on the eastern side of the Desna River, thus closely approaching the town of Bryansk.” STILL FIGHTING SOVIET FORCE LANDED NEAR NOVOROSSISK. ENEMY HOPING FOR AUTUMN RAINS. .(Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 13. The Berlin radio admits the Russian landing 'force which established a bridgehead in the Novorossisk area three days ago is still fighting. The enemy radio made the first mention of autumn rains in Russia when it claimed that the weather was hampering the fighting west of Kharkov. The British United Press military writer says that, given a normal Russian autumn, the Germans cannot hope for a lull in the fighting, ag a result of the weather, for at least three weeks. In the Ukraine, roads are unlikely to become impassable for heavy vehicles until the first week of October. The autumn lull normally continues for nearly four weeks and the ground begins to freeze in November. This vear the Russians’ communications position may enable more mobile units to cut through the German lines and break the enemy . forces into small pockets. The Russians this autumn might be able to take advantage of their position if they are able to pin down the Germans against the Dnieper by the end of September. The Russian breakthrough in tfie Byelgorod area early this summer was made in heavy rain, which forced the Russians to advance knee deep in water in some areas.