ON MIDDLE DNIEPER AND IN WHITE RUSSIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1943, Page 3

ON MIDDLE DNIEPER AND IN WHITE RUSSIA

Desperate But Unavailing German Efforts i TO STEM THE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE SOVIET TROOPS IN GOMEL SUBURB AND NEARING VITEBSK z LONDON, October 31. A Moscow communique shows that the Red Army has made more good progress in the great battle west of the Middle Dnieper. The Russians have extended their bridgeheads west of the river and have considerably improved their positions. Earlier today, Mr Paul Winterton, the London “NewsChronicle’s” Moscow representative, stated that one of the Russian bridgeheads now extended many miles west of the Dnieper and that the Russians had occupied many stronglyfortified villages. In a desperate effort to contain the Russians, the Germans have thrown in fresh tank and infantry reinforcements. In one area, eight counter-attacks were launched. Both sides are suffering heavy casualties in some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. Heavy fighting is also taking place on other parts of the long Russian front. In White Russia, Soviet forces have occupied a suburb of Gomel and taken a number of towns and villages. Further progress has been made in the area of Vitebsk, where the Russians have occupied more than 40 towns and villages. The Russian spearhead is less than 15 miles from this enemy key bastion. During Sunday’s fighting 126 German tanks were destroyed or disabled and 85 enemy aircraft shot down. Mr Winterton sums up the general position on the Russian front by stating that at the moment the Germans are fighting back, but are steadily losing ground. They are no longer capable of stopping the Russians with their present resources.