Evening star., 1941-09-12
DnieperCrossed
AT -Four Points,,
Soviet Claims
Further Successes
In Central Drive
Also Reported
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press.
MOSCOW, Sept. 12-Counterat-
tacking Russians crossed the lower
Dnieper at four points today and
claimed capture of an island and
two villages from the Germans even
as new reverses for the Wehrmacht
in the bloody Smolensk central Sec
tor dashed all Adolf Hitler's hopes
of equaling Napoleon's 53-day march
to Moscow.
In this 83d day Of the Nazi in
vasion. Marshal Semeon Timo-
shenko's Central Red Army reported
capture of the village of Olkha as
its latest success in the continuing
westward thrust against the in
vaders. Red Star, the Soviet Army
newspaper, said a platoon secuted
the village in advance and then
tank charge threw the Germans out.
More than 100 dead men, II field
guns and 10 mortars were left be-
hind.
Fighting extended all up and down
the central zone, Red Star saying
the Germans were being driven back
on Smolensk at the rate Of to 10
miles day
Island Declared Taken.
In the new Soviet counterattacks
along the lower Dnieper, where the
Germans have made their greatest
gains. the island of Hortitsa was
captured from German and Ru-
manian forces, who lost 500 slain,
Red Star said.
The villages of Voyskovoye and
Fedorovka on the west bank fell to
a surprise attack by Russians, who
| blew up a bridge to cut of the foes
escape. it reported.
During last night. the Soviet
communique said, cur troops con-
tinued to fight the enemy along
the entire front"
The supplement to the commu-
nique said Soviet air squadron had
destroyed % of so planes on an air
drome at the approaches to Lenln-
grad and had set fire to fuel tanks
and buildings.
/ The Soviet Information Bureau
said the 47th German Tank Corps,
reinforced with artillery and in
fantry." had suffered heavy losses
/ in a pincer operation by Soviet units
patterned on the very enclrclement
tactics which the Nazis have en-
phasized since the invasion Of Po-
land.
Tanks Taken into Pincers.
Taking into pincers the enemy
tank regiments which at several
points wedged into our lines a
communique reported, Soviet troops
cut them of from the infantry and
Systematically annihilated them,
part at time
In one engagement alone. 1t said,
Soviet tank crews destroyed 79 Ger
man tanks and 80 guns and killed
$500 Germans.
While Russians pictured fierce
Soviet attacks along 400-mlle front
from Gomel to Velikie Luki, ap-
proaches TO the defense zones Of
both Leningrad and Kiev we're said
to be carpeted with German dead.
Baltic Fleet naval pilots were said
to have joined Red Army flyers IN
the defense of Leningrad, which has
been under 123 AFRAID alarms.
Russians said. however, that Ger
man raiders reached the city proper
for the first time Tuesday.
Attack OH Railway Repulsed.
In the Far North. where snow
now covers the Khibin Mountains,
Soviet troops we're reported to have
repulsed a Finnish-German at
tempt to cut the Murmansk-Lenin-
grad Railway.
Guerrillas we're said to be active
behind the German lines in sup
port of Soviet frontal operations,
and the early morning communique
said a Soviet trick involved two
Nazi infantry units in deadly fight-
ing between themselves.
The Soviet band, the communique
said, involved one unit-a detach-
ment' of three platoons--in a hot
skirmish near the town Of Dunayevo
and then ceased fire and disap-
peared when a NaZi infantry COM
pany appeared.
Failing to grasp the real situa-
ton" the communique said, both
. German detachments opened rife
and machine-gun fire at each other
Over 80 German officers and men
were killed"