ENEMY RESERVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1943, Page 3

ENEMY RESERVES

THROWN INTO BATTLE WITHOUT REST ATTEMPT TO SEAL GAPS IN DNIEPER LINE. HINT OF IMPENDING RETREAT. LONDON, September 28. The major development in the Red Army’s offensive during today were the capture of a point over 30 miles west of Smolensk, and other substantial advances on a broad front toward Mogilev and also to within only 10 miles from Gomel, while furious battles went on along the middle Dnieper for Russian and German bridgeheads at various points on the two banks of the great, river. The Moscow “Izvestia” says German reserves which were brought long distances in an attempt to seal great gaps in the Dnieper line are being thrown into battle without rest. The Germans are constantly counter-attacking without success. Their reinforcements already have received a number of crushing blows. According to the Stockholm “Svenska Dagbladet’s” Berlin correspondent, a military spokesman in the Wilhelmstrasse said it must not be taken for granted that the Dnieper marks the line along which German troops will establish a fast defence. The Madrid radio says that 650 volunteers of the Spanish Blue Division have returned to Spain from the Russian front. MANY GERMANS KILLED IN ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE FROM KUBAN. MERCILESS RUSSIAN BOMBING. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 29. Merciless Russian bombing in the Kerch Straits is causing a heavy deathroll among Germans trying to escape to the Crimea before the Russian advance in the Taman Peninsula, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The German escape craft include even rowing boats and rafts.