BREACH IN DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 October 1943, Page 4

BREACH IN DEFENCES

ADMITTED BY GERMANS IN OFFICIAL STATEMENT TO PRESS. DESPERATE STAND BY ENEMY IN MELITOPOL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, October 20. The Finnish radio, quoting a Berlin correspondent’s description of the scene at the German Foreign Office Press Conference when the Russian break-through was announced, said: “You could have heard a pin drop when Major Sommerfeld said: ‘Unfortunately I have to report that the Russians have broken through the German front.’ Major Sommerfeld never since Stalingrad had spoken so gravely.” The Finnish radio's correspondent went on to point out that this is the first time in the whole Russian offensive that a German military spokesman has stated that the Russians have achieved an actual break through. German commentators hitherto have always wound up with the claim that the breaches have been sealed off. The Berlin radio’s commentator, Captain Sertorious, declared that the result of the battle south-east of Kremenchug is of integral importance for further developments of war events, not only in the Dnieper bend, but also in adjacent sectors. He added that the Russians had resumed frontal assaults north of the Sea of Azov, and that doubtless these were synchronised with the attempt to break through towards Krivo Rog. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the frontal assault which smashed open the 16-mile deep defences of the Dnieper line south-east of Kremenchug, have already carried the Red Army 50 miles into the Dnieper bend, where it is rapidly overrunning the main German communications. The Russians are only 30 miles from the important communication centre of Snamenka. Other Russian forces are driving down the 45-mile branch line from Pyatikhatki to Krivoi Rog. VAIN COUNTER-ATTACKS. Enemy tank and infantry counterattacks, launched from scores of points, are not even slowing down the Russian onslaught. German resistance is already showing signs of weakness, although thousands of troops have been flung into the breach. A British United Press correspondent says every street in Melitopol is a lane of death, as the Germans pour a deadly fire from buildings they have converted into miniature fortresses. The stone walls which the Russians built round their houses are considerably helping the Germans. The “Red Star” reports that the Germans have started a mass evacuation by sea of all people, animals and moveable property from the west coast of the Crimea. The Germans are frenziedly defending Melitopol in order to give the Germans in the Crimea, who include a quarter of a million wounded, a chance to evacuate. The Berlin radio reported that the Russians north of Melitopol have breached the German lines, but claimed that the breach had been sealed off. A British United Press correspondent says the Germans show every intention of fighting to the death at Kiev. The Red Army, therefore, is concentrating on encircling Kiev, while shelling the, direct route into the city. Tonight’s Soviet communique records further gains south-east of Kremenchug, whore the Russians advanced three to six miles and occupied a number of places, including three railway stations. The Red Army fought street battles in Melitopol and occupied several quarters. The enemy suffered heavy losses.