FURIOUS BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1943, Page 3

FURIOUS BATTLE

FOR LIBERATION OF UKRAINE SOVIET ADVANCE. GERMANS EVACUATING CRIMEA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copjright) LONDON. October 14. The furious battle of the past six days on the Dnieper Line has ended in Russian victory. Moscow radio says: “Yesterday the River Dnieper divided the Ukraine into two separate parts. Today it links these two parts together. Battles for the liberation of the whole of the Ukraine have begun on the river’s western bank.” The crossing of the Dnieper is the worst blow the Germans have taken in Russia. The Germans, while still fighting furiously, admit some withdrawals in the Dnieper line. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Istanbul correspondent says it is reliably reported from Bucharest that the Germans have already begun to evacuate the Crimea. While the first snows of the Russian winter fall in the far north and autumn rains sweep the White Russian front, the German news agency reports that the Russians have launched a natv offensive between Gomel and the zone west of Smolensk. Numerous infantry divisions and waves of tanks have been hurled against the German lines.

The Moscow , “Pravda” says direct railway traffic has been resumed Between Moscow and Smolensk, which means that Smolensk will soon become a potent base for all-out drives against White Russia. Describing the break-through at Melitopol which threatens the whole German position in southern Russia. Moscow radio says that the Red Army had to force two anti-tank barriers and then the River Moloshnaya, and finally a third tank barrier on the river's western bank. After crossing the river the Russian troops converged on the town from the north and south. The fighting was fierce, and on one sector alone the Germans lost 4000 killed and 36 tanks and 104 guns destroyed. The Germans rushed up reserves and heavy fighting is progressing for Melitopol itself. Berlin radio last night admitted that the Germans had carried out a withdrawal in the Zaporozhe area following upon renewed Russian onslaughts with massed tanks. “Three Russian armies are hammering at the Zaporozhe defences. Warm autumn weather favours the Russian offensive against Zaporozhe,” it said. A German communique admits local penetrations by the Russians along the Dnieper southeast of Kiev and at Zaporozhe. Russian gunners are firing across the Kerch Straits at the costal defences in the Crimea. The German commentator Captain Sertorius says that Soviet forces have landed on the southern coast of the Crimea. He said it was too early yet to decide whether it was a major attack or only a reconnaissance thrust.