BATTLE NEAR RIGA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24367, 20 September 1944, Page 5

BATTLE NEAR RIGA

Counter-Attacks Repulsed RUSSIAN GAINS IN POLAND (NE. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 12.5 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 19. South-west of Riga, the capital of Latvia, Russian forces have beaten off more strong German infantry and tank attacks, and there are Indications that a major battle is being fought on the Baltic front. The Germans continue to speak of a big Russian offensive on a front of 50 miles extending from Bauska, in Latvia, to Lake Peipus, but Moscow has not substantiated these reports.

A Moscow communique says:—“ Russian forces west of Jelgava (Latvia) on Monday successfully repelled German infantry and tank attacks. The Red Army south and south-east of Sanok (Poland) fought its way forward and occupied a district centre near Drohoybez, and also 30 other Inhabited localities.”

.Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow says it is admitted that the Germans are showing great activity, on the Baltic front, where they appear .to have received substantial reinforcements and supplies. They are making a new attempt to bolster up their position with bits of ground gained here and there from the Red Army, but their fresh attacks in the Jelgava sector have come up against considerably strengthened Russian fieldworks.

“The battle of the Baltic has assumed unbelievable violence,” says the Official German News Agency’s commentator (von Olberg). “The Russians are attackihg on a front of 50 miles from Bauska (Latvia) to Lake Peipus." A,Soviet air communique reports large-scale Russian raids on Sunday night against the town and railway junction of Debreczen, in Hungary, and the ’ town and railway junction of Satulmare, in northern Transylvania. Soviet aeroplanes bombed military trains, ammunition, and oil dumps, starting many fires and explosions. The air arm of the Soviet Baltic Fleet on Saturday raided Libau (Latvia), sinking three enemy transports totalling 12.000 tons, and three German submarines, and damaging two large trans-

ports and a floating dock. Niheteen German aeroplanes were shot down In combat over the port, “The Russian advance in Transylvania, with Rumanian support, has reached the long stretch of the Hungarian frontier established by the Vienna Award, 1940,” states a British Official Wireless message, "Further east, the enemy has been expelled from the tip of the territory allotted to Hungary north of Brasov. There is now a double Russian threat from central Trahsylvania and from Bucqvina against the enemy in northern Transylvania, but the formidable barrier of the Carpathians assists the defence ih this region on the, east. There remains the large, area to the west, which has always been Rumanian, but into which the Russians have not yet advanced. Their farthest occupation so far announced is from Turda (south of Cluj) through Deva, 70 miles south-west of Cluj to the Danube at Turnu Severin. "Beyond the Danube, the Jugoslavs appear to control to a large extent the country stretching far towards Belgrade and Nish. The' Germans hold a line in the Jugoslav-Bulgarian frontier area north-west of Sofia.” SUPPLIES FOR POLES IN WARSAW (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Sept. 18. United States Flying Fortresses today carried equipment to the Poles in Warsaw, afterwards landing behind the Russian lines. Previously Royal Air Force aeroplanes had taken supplies to Warsaw and returned to their own bases. Lately the Russian Air Force has also been dropping equipment. GERMAN PLANES DROP POISONED FOOD (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON*. Sept. 19. Poisoned food was dropped by German aeroplanes to the Polish patriots flighting in Wars aw, ac c ord in g to a report from Warsaw. The message added that the food was dropped in an attempt to discredit the aid given to the Poles by Soviet aircraft. GERMAN TRANSPORT LEAVES ITALY (R 2 ' 5 a-m-) NEW Y °RK. Sept. 19. ‘ Columns of tanks and trucks and innumerable trains of tank cars have been crossing the Brenner Pass in the last few days,” says the Berne correspondent of the “New York Times.” This is interpreted as a certain indication that the Wehrmacht is preparing a total evacuation of northern Italy, where the transport situation is catastrophic. “The apparent lack of co-ordination between officials inside • Germany and the combat troops, has contributed to the chaos, which is enhanced by columns, of trucks, loaded with industrial loot; stranded along most of the main highways because of lack of petrol. The situation has been made worse by the recent transfer to Germany of all the equipment from three of the largest synthetic oil plants in northern Italy.” ing of 32 German S.S. men during a ceremonial parade in Rome. Caruso is charged with violating the extra-terri-torial rights of St. Paul’s Basilica and taking out 65 political refugees who sought shelter with the monks. Caruso's secretary. Roberto Occhieto, will appear on similar charges. . It is believed that the trial will be resumed under more suitable security conditions. “Caruso end Occhieto this afternoon were returned safely to prison after the crowd had dispersed “Observers consider that the disturbance reflects the weakness of the Italian Government, whose agents have made little effort to preserve order. It is suggested that, the shadowy powers which the Allies granted the Italian Government may be partly responsible for this.” The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press says the issue now facing the Bonomi Government is whether it can maintain order and proceed with the trial. It will be regarded as a sign of weakness on the part of the Government if the trial is postponed or transferred.