GENERAL LULL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1943, Page 4

GENERAL LULL

ON THE EASTERN FRONT BUT GERMANS UNEASY IN SOME AREAS REPORTS OF HEAVY ATTACKS IN LENINGRAD ZONE (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 6. Tonight’s Soviet communique says: “There were no serious changes today along the whole front.” Although rain has appreciably slowed down the tempo of the Russian offensive on the White Russian front just when there were good prospects of capturing Vitebsk and Gomel, and correspondents report that the weather is steady becomingworse, the Red Army is still on the offensive. The Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorious, declared that it may be premature to say that the Russian offensive has definitely come to a close. The British United Press Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians today made a small advance in the Vitebsk sector, but that the fighting was on a small scale compared with the battles of the last few weeks. The Red Army is now within 25 miles of Vitebsk. The Russians are threatening Lesno (20 miles south-east of Vitebsk, on the railway linking that city and Smolensk) from points ten miles north and south of the railway. The Berlin radio declared that the Russians on the Leningrad front made eight powerful attacks and in the Yolkhov sector launched an attack in great strength. The radio claimed that all the attacks were repulsed. “The Times” Mo’scow corresponding reports that the Russians are consolidating before the outlying defences of Mogilev and Gomel, but that dense thickets, deep forests and also the numerous tributaries of the Dnieper and Dvina are adding to the Red Army’s problems in advancing towards Vitebsk. The enemy is expected stubbornly to defend Vitebsk, which may prove to be one of the toughest nuts the Red Army has had to crack. The correspondent adds that Vitebsk means as much for the safety of the northern German armies as Melitopol means to the Germans remaining in the Crimea. The “Moscow News” says: “If the Germans think the autumn will give them a chance to rest and to concentrate on other war theatres, they are gravely mistaken,” but for the most part it is evident that the weather has imposed a lull on the eager Russians. No reports are forthcoming from Moscow regarding fighting on the Middle Dnieper or on the south front, but correspondents emphasise that both sides are taking advantage of the involuntary pause to regroup for the resumption of titanic battle, with large mechanised units.

Reuter says Red Army sappers are working day and night converting captured forts for use against the enemy and laying minefields against possible counter-attacks. The Germans are utilising the cessation by continuing to rush up reinforcements, particularly in the Vitebsk and Gomel sectors. “NECESSARY DELAY” DIETMAR’S ADMISSIONS & CLAIMS. UNSUPPORTED ASSERTIONS. LONDON. Octobei’ 5. “It would be futile to overlook the Russian gains, but while the events are serious they are merely a passing phase,” said the spokesman of the German High Command, Genaral Dietmar, broadcasting over Berlin radio after a lapse of several weeks. “It is true that the Russians have made great advances in their methods and equipment in the past few years. This year they have mobilised vast masses of reserves. We must pay a tribute to the Russian command’s unfaltering determination, but we doubt whether its calculations have included a long-term strategy. It has such a superiority in masses that it can even affort to make mistakes. “We have chosen to abandon terrain at a small sacrifice since we did not wish to pay greater sacrifices in men and materials. But even our evacuation moves have their limits. Where the German High Command will set the limit I cannot predict, but the new line will take into account the future plans of our command. Shortened communications have been gained, and the Russian terrain —full of rivers, marshes and mountains —offers many advantageous defensive positions. The scorched-earth policy, which we learnt in part from our enemies, will now operate against them as they advance at great cast over their own territory. We, on the other hand, had made such vast gains that we can now afford to manoeuvre in the vast terrain of the east and abandon what we think expedient So far we have always mastered the inequality of numbers by an offensive, but every pause brings dangers. Successful defence means defence in depth, and defence in depth needs a shortened front to avoid encirclement.

“In the east as well as in the south we have gained the necessary delay which is essential to give the German inventive genius time to equip our forces and for us to complete the mobilisation not only at the front but also at home.