SLAV PATRIOTS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 3

SLAV PATRIOTS

THE SUCCESSFUL OFFENSIVE. OPERATIONS ALONG RAILWAYS. TRIESTE AND ZAGREB CUT. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11. Trieste and Zagreb, two of the greatest German strongholds in the Balkans, are reported to have been cut off from the outside world by converging partisan armies, declared the Bari radio. ,

The Germans in Trieste are completely besieged. Yugoslav forces overcame strong German resistance and. occupied the heights dominating the town. An all-out partisan offensive against the German-controlled railway network is continuing unabated.

A Yugoslav communique, reports that successful offensive operations continued along the Ogulin-Karlovac-Zagreb railway. In the Susak region the Germans were forced to retreat at some points. Croat patriots occupied a point on the Zagreb-Belgrade railway and derailed two armoured trains. In eastern Bosnia partisans occupied Bigelina, 35 miles north-east of Tusla, the capture of which was announced last week. In Slovenia violent fighting continues for the railways between Lyubliana, Trieste, Gorizia and Fiume. According to the Bari radio the German commander in Yugoslavia appealed to Hitler to send immediate reinforcements, as the position of the Germans who are locked in bitter battles with the patriots is becoming more serious.

The British United Press, referring to the patriots’ offensive against the rail system in Yugoslavia, says that the Germans must control the rail net work over which they move forces to the Adriatic.