RUSSIAN DRIVE TO THE GULF OF RIGA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 180, 1 August 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN DRIVE TO THE GULF OF RIGA

PLIGHT OF GERMANS Only 15-Mile Escape Gap For 400,000 Troops N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, July 31. A German High Command communique states that the Russians captured Kaunas "despite our troops' stubborn resistance." The German news agency last Friday reported that the Germans evacuated Kaunas, but on Saturday stated that they were still in the city. Moscow still has not claimed to have taken Kaunas, but Marshal Stalin to-night announced that General Bagramyan's force had taken Jelgava, 25 miles south-west of Riga, which is described as the basic junction of communications connecting the Baltic area with East Prussia.

The British United Press points out that the capture of Jelgava narrows the escape gap for the German troops in Estonia and north Latvia to the distance between Jelgava and the Gulf of Riga, which is 22 miles. A late report says that Russian forces, driving on Riga, are almost within sight of the sea. These forces have reduced to less than 15 miles the last land escape route open to about 400,000 German troops in Estonia and north Latvia.

German military authorities are doing their best to paint the brightest picture of the situation. Von Olberg said to-day that German forces on the Vistula, backed up by bomber squadrons, prevented Russian attempts to cross the river, but the Russians were fighting with great numerical superiority for a great bend of the river. Von Hammer claimed that fresh Russian attempts to overrun the German positions between Narva and Lake Peipus had been frustrated. The German overseas new agency wound up by saying: "The German strategic withdrawal is the last phase of the defensive warfare on the Eastern Front. It will be followed by offensive activity." Nazi Catastrophe Line Three generations of German soldiers, Kaiser veterans, Wehrmacht Grenadiers, and Hitler Youth,-to-day are dying on the Niemen Line which the Germans have nicknamed the "catastrophe line," states Reuters Moscow correspondent. German soldiers of all ages in new uniforms with shining buttons are, according to descriptions from Russian correspondents, floating down the dark green waters of the Niemen to the Baltic. Russian forces which by-passed Kaunas, are now converging on an important road junction of Marijampilis, 30 miles south-west of Kaunas. Other armoured spearheads are pressing along the direct route to East Prussia on the Kaunas-Inster-burg railway line. The Exchange Telegraph correspondent at Moscow reports that the Russians made further overnight progress west of the Niemen.