Evening star., 1943-11-01
Russians Threaten
To Cut Nuzis' Lost
Railway Exit
BY EDDY GILMORE,
Associated Press War Correspondent.

4looOoV, lNph. - Ilf Itl
mans were reeling back in utter
confusion along choked retreat
roads above the Crimea as the
Russians fourth Ukraine army
battered its way to within 8 mile
of the last rail exit from the
peninsula.
With the Russians driving toward
the Crimea over A broad front, It
now is impossible for the Germans
to evacuate large forces any loncer
by the railway, which runs up the
Perekop Isthnus. only 4 miles wide
at its narrowest point. to Kherson on
the Lower Dnieper River.
The railway, which the Russians
brought within easy artillery range
Yesterday with the capture of Chap
llnka, has become virtually useless
10 the Germans as a line Communi-
cation by day and in another "a
hours 1t should be severed.
Nazl troop concentrations and
transport columns attempting to
flee the death trap were being
pounded endlessly by the Red Ar
Force.
Strong Central Positions.
Seizure Of Novo TroltSkoe also
gave the Red Army strong central
positions for operations westward
toward the Perekop-kherSon Rail-
way.
Russian forces Stormlng into Novo-
AleXeVevka, about 40 miles east of
the Perekop land bridge. already had
cut the only other railway line lead
ing out Of the Crimea. and the cap
ture OF more than 200 settlements
between the Dnicpcr and the Crlmea
put the RED Army virtually in DOS
session Of the entire Nogaisk Stcppc
1t is questionable how desperate
a defense the Nazis can put lID for
the Crmea, They had a strong de-
Tense line from zaporozhe through
Melltopol to the Sea of Azov. but
the Russians cracked it. The Ger
mans had prepared for this by
erecting lighter, but impressive lines
behind this one It also fell and
with its crumbling the Red Army
ran roughshod over the fleeing Ger
mans.
A Russian communicate. broad
cast from Moscow and recorded in
London, said the Nazis had lost
! 900 men and 16 tanks in vain
attempt to hold Novo-AleXeyevka.
Although the exact number of
Germans in the 9.900-Square mile
Crimea has not been disclosed. the
strength Of their forces has been
estimated at from tens OF thous-
ands to 100000.
Gen. Rodion Y NalmCyskE S
troops. forging ahead southwest Of
DneproDetrovSk for q junction with
Soviet forces at KriVol ROg were
believed to be about 40 miles from
that iron center where Moscow ac-
knoWledged the Germans were put
ting up fierce resistance.
Nazis Report Good Progress
A German communlque, broad
cast by Berlin yesterday, said that
"our counterattackS north of KrivOl
Rog are making good progress in
spite Of enemy resistance.
The Germans claimed the Rus
slams had lost more than 400 tanks
on the eastern front during the last
three days, while Moscow said the
Red Army destroyed 80 Nazl tanks
in Saturdays fighting and brought
down % planes. Most of these losses
apparently were suffered in the
krivol Rog battle
Fast Soviet units have broken
through German lines south Of the
Lower Dnieper, the German high
command acknowledged today. The
broadcast COmmunique asserted
however, that flank attacks by Ger
man mobile units inflicted severe
losses upon the Russians, while Ger
man counterattackS made good
progress in the Dnieper bend.
The British radio, quoting a Mos
COW correspondent, said snow al
ready had fallen in Central Russia.
The broadcast. recorded by CHS.
said the Russians. who had been
favored with one Of the driest
autumns, could expect snow from
now on. which again helps the Red
Army, better adapted to winter
fighting than the Germans
Reinforcements Rushed
Swiss reports to Swedish news
papers said the Germans. panicky
over the Russians unceaSing blows,
'See RUSSIA, Page A-3J