RED ARMY MASSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 October 1943, Page 3

RED ARMY MASSES

FLOODING OVER NOGAISK STEPPE HALF-WAY TO LOWER DNIEPER GROWING THREAT TO OUTLET FROM CRIMEA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 29. Masons of Red Army infantry, guns are rapidly flooding over the great Nogaisk Steppe in continued pursuit of the retreating Germans, There has been no pause in the Russian advance since they shattered the German defence line two days ago. They are now over half-way to the lower Dnieper and within 90 miles of Kherson, at the month of the river, the terminus of the Germans’ only escape railway from the Crimea. . Other Soviet forces continue to drive toward the eastern and western approaches to the Crimea itself. Front-line dispatches received in Moscow give a vivid picture of abandoned German tanks, guns and ammuniticjn strewn everywhere across the steppe. . The advance is led by fastmoving Cossack squadrons; behind them rumble lines of tanks and motorised infantry, and behind them again march great masses of Soviet infantry. In some places the Germans are making no attempt to stand and are fleeing to the west and south-west. In other places German dive-bombers are sweeping over the advancing Russian forces trying to break up the long lines of pursuing tanks and infantry, but though 'causing a certain amount of delay, they have been unable to check the advance seriously. Many prisoners are falling into Soviet hands, and there is no sign of the enemy being able to establish any kind of fresh defence line. In the northern part of the steppes the Russians have covered half the distance to Nikopol. Inside the bend the Russians are advancing rapidly south-west of Dnepropetrovsk, with the Germans moving ahead of them down the one escape route. Soviet bombers are pounding Apostolovo. The Germans’ communications throughout the bend are in a chaotic condition. As long as they hold on to Krivoi Rog they have a chance of getting a great number of their men out of the bend, but if the town falls their escape will be cut off.