MADE BY SOVIET FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 September 1943, Page 3

MADE BY SOVIET FORCES

In Drive Towards Dnieper Crossings CENTRAL ARMIES CLOSING ON SMOLENSK GEkMANS EVACUATING KUBAN BRIDGEHEAD LONDON, September 24. The Russians announce fresh advances on all key sectors of the Dnieper front. In the direction of Dnepropetrovsk they have pushed forward three to twelve miles and have also advanced from six to thirteen miles towards Kremenchug. They have also made more progress towards Kiev and have captured a town 20 miles south-east of Kiev and 12 miles from the Dnieper. North-west and north-east of Smolensk the Russians have gained up to three miles and have taken a place seven miles to the north-east of the city. In their drive towards Gomel, they have pushed forward between six and thirteen miles. Included among 160 places captured is a town 45 miles south-east of Gomel. The latest Soviet communique makes no mention of Russian forces reaching the Dnieper, which earlier reports said had happened. A German commentator says the Russians attempted a crossing of the Dnieper , where the Desna runs into it, opposite Kiev. A Moscow correspondent says it is not going to be an easy job to cross the Dnieper at Kiev, as it is fast flowing and wide and is the greatest obstacle to be encountered by the Russians so far. The Russians have advanced several miles in the Kuban, north-west of Novorossisk. The Germans say they have evacuated their bridgehead there.