SOVIET TROOPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 October 1943, Page 4

SOVIET TROOPS

DRIVING IN ON WHITE RUSSIAN BASTIONS GERMANS USING TANKS FREELY IN ATTEMPT TO' STEM ATTACKS (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 4. Stiffened by a steel framework of Tiger tanks and mobile guns, the Germans are bitterly resisting the Russian advance towards the White Russian bastions of Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The Russians are still making headway, but have been slowed down by the Germans and by rain. After crossing the Pronya River, north and south of the main railway to Mogilev, the Russians made a new crossing at an undisclosed point and now threaten Mogilev on a wide arc, less than 30 miles from the city. Heavy tank engagements are reported on the approaches to Gomel, where the Germans are using the latest Mark 5, armed with the 75 millimetre gun, which is claimed to be more manoeuvrable than the Tiger tank. Tonight’s Russian communique simply says: “The Russians in the Gomel, Mogilev and Vitebsk directions have considerably improved their positions in local engagements. Intense reconnaissance’ activity and artillery exchanges have occurred on other fronts.” While Moscow makes no mention of the Dnieper battles, a German communique states: “The Germans, despite heavy resistance, successfully attacked the Russians who had crossed the Middle Dnieper." The Berlin radio said: “The withdrawal towards the Middle Dnieper on the whole has ended. It has been carried out in complete order. Our disengaging movements are not yet complete east of Gomel and Mogilev.”