HARD FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1943, Page 3

HARD FIGHTING

ON BOTH SIDES OF SMOLENSK HIGHWAY. GREAT ARTILLERY BATTLE ON DNIEPER. (Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 1. The Berlin radio today said the Russians west of Roslovl have launched a new outflanking manoeuvre and that the hardest fluctuating fighting has occurred on both sides of the Smolensk highway. One locality changed hands three times within 24 hours and the Germans finally withdrew west from this locality. Moscow correspondents have been emphasising that further Russian success on the White Russia front may affect the whole German line as far as Leningrad. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that the Battle of the Dnieper, over a 400mile front is in full swing. Thousands of guns, from a point above Kiev to below Zaporozhe, have opened ftp a mighty artillery duel. A fierce battle is being fought at the gates of Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk, where the Germans are stoutly resisting. The Berlin radio's military commentator, Captain Sertorius, said the stiffening of German resistance, which was in some sectors at the beginning of the week, has become more pronounced, particularly in the southern sector. The enemy yesterday, between Zaporozhe and Melitopol further increased his efforts to break through to the Dnieper and Crimea, and Captain Sertorius added: “The Russians threw in three fresh armies comprising over fifteen divisions, six tank brigades and considerable artillery which are facing our positions. Rains have made the roads more difficult between Gomel and Smolensk on the Minsk highway, but the slackening of enemy attacks there arises not only from the weather but also from the tough and elastic German defence.’’