RIGA ENCIRCLED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 232, 30 September 1944, Page 5

RIGA ENCIRCLED

FRONTAL ASSAULT Sweeping Advances Into Balkan Sectors N.Z. Press Association — Copyright Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 29. The Russians are making a frontal assault against Riga along a semicircle from the Gulf of Riga to the south-western approaches to the city, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Cossack cavalry and motorised forces penetrated the forests thrusting against the rear of the enemy forces holding the city. Russians, penetrating the north-eastern suburbs of Riga, are coming up against stiffar resistance, but tank spearheads have forced wedges into the German defence lines and armour is being thrown in to breach the last barriers. ' Mopping up of the last pockets of German resistance in north-western Estonia has released powerful forces for operations in other sectors. of the Baltic front. The Russian drive against Czechoslovakia, which is making good headway, threatens the last German defences along the great stretch of the Polish-Czech border region.

Drive to Czechoslovakia The drive to Czechoslovakia menaces the German forces in Hungary and those massed sectors south of Cracow and also brings the Russians nearer Silesia, which is one of the most important areas in this section of Germany. The Russian crossing of the Danube in strength resulted in the capture of Palanka, north of Negotin, which is the first town in Eastern Serbia to fall to the Russians. The German news agency claims that Palanka was recaptured by mountain troops. The agency also reports the first snow in Transylvania, and German and Hungarian counter-attacks on a large scale. The Rumanian communique announces the capture of a town just inside the Hungarian frontier and on one if the main railway routes to Rumania from the west. To-night's Soviet communique says the Russians in the Righ direction fov iht for the improvement of their positions and occupied 30 places. Russians, south-east and south of Turku, made a fighting advance in difficult mountain and forest terrain and occupied 60 places, including three railway stations, while south-west and west of Delatyn, in Stanislawow region, overcoming enemy defences and engineering fortifications in mountainous and wooded country they captured 40 places. Transylvania Operations Russians, in Northern Transylvania, overcoming enemy resistance, occupied the town of Targulmures and fought their way into 50 other places, including six railway stations. They forced the Mures River and established a bridgehead on the western bank. Moscow radio stated that the Russians, under the command of Marshal Govorov, during the offensive between September 17 and 26, in which all Estonia, except Oesel and Dago Islands, were liberated, killed 30,000 Germans and captured 15,745, and also destroyed or captured 35 planes, 88 tanks, 363 guns, 495 mortars and much other equipment.