RUSSIANS CLOSE ON RIGA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 5

RUSSIANS CLOSE ON RIGA

Nine Miles From City BIG GAINS ON BALTIC FRONT (N.Z. Press Assoclatloxw-Copyright) (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON. Sept. 20. Advancing on a front of 75 miles. General Bagramyan*® forces have broken through the deeply echeloned' German defence line south-east of Riga, the capital of Latvia, to a depth of 25 miles and have captured Tekava, only nine miles from Riga. The Red Air Force and Russian artillery are bombarding the outer defences of the city. A supplementary Moscow communique says that yesterday more than 3000 Germans were killed on the Riga sector, and a large amount of booty was captured, including 200 guns and 100 machine-guns. * In their four days’ drive through the enemy** defence* In the Baltic States the Russians forced their way into about 2800 inhabited localities, the places captured including the important towns of Jelgava, south-west of Riga, and Walga, in Estonia, and the border town of Bauska, Fighting is taking place on a wide front from the Gulf of Higa to Lake Peipus.

“The Russians are closing in on Riga in spite of incessant German counter-attacks with fresh reserves, which are constantly grouping and trying to find a seak spot in the Soviet ranks,” says the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s Moscow correspondent. “The Russian assault was on a massive scale and the advance so rapid that theSoviet Command had to radio fresh orders to the Stormoviks because the enemy lines they were to bomb had already been taken.” The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press says the Russian autumn offensive is rolling back the Germans, over the whole Latvian front, Advanced armoured units have pushed deep into the Riga defences and the town may fall soon. It is well within even medium artillery range. The Germans are fighting savagely and are seeking to hold up the big rush and avert another major catastrophe. "The liberation of Walga is pf great importance for further operations,” says the Moscow radio. "There is no suitable terrain for defence beyond the town and the waJT to the Gulf of Riga is now open to us,” The new German retreat on the Russian northern front is admitted over the Berlin radio. "We have corrected our lines northwards and have taken up new positions west of Lake Peipus," said the radio. "The Russians tried to disturb our movements by an outflanking landing across Lake Peipus. German security forces are engaging these formations, which form a> major force." .... Mr Stalin, in an order of the day addressed to General Bagramyan, said.’ “Troops of the first Baltic front, having taken the offensive with massed support from artillery and aircraft, broke through the deeply echeloned enemy defence line south-east of Higa to a depth of 25 miles on a front "of 75 miles, and, in the course of the offensive, occupied Bauska, Esava, Esmulsa. Jelgava, and Sikava, and forced their way into 2000 localities. * ■ A second order of the day, addressed to General Maslennikov, ’’said that troops Of the third Baltic front yesterday captured the town and railway

junction of Walga, a powerful Strong* hold of German defence in southern Estonia. , “The Russians have occupied Plavinal, a town and railway Junction east of Riga, and alw captured 80Q other inhabited localities/; says a Mos- = cow' communique. "Russians west of jelgava successfully, repelled; wemy tank and infantry aitacta and Inflicted heavy losses on the Germans.” ; The focal point in the fighting, o*V the Russian front is now the northern flank, where the Russians are striving, . to cripple the German armoured, grouping, which is already badly mauled, state Moscow correspondents, v, German commentators report heavy. Russian pressure near Madona, and a; very hard battte for Walga, which 11, now in Russian.hands. The Moscowcorrespondent of the Associated points out that the capture of W«ga. cuts the last railway imhmg the Pgr, mans in Estonia wuh giefestorthe, German forces in. the Baltic statep, ; Reuter's Moscow correspondent save; the smashing of German armour in.the north will , open the way . Russian drive to clear up. the PaUto States and roahe possible mow through to Germany. • .y • : > ! .'jf.. “The battle of the. Baltic- Rtites is swiftly approaching Hs'climax as tw , ; enemy’s strength it being brokcndown by heavyylosse* hqd.few# weight and frequency of counterblows, syys.tne Exchange Telegraph (mrtfsponden t t i| m Moscow. “German tank losses for the , lest four days have averaged .11» dsily*I*' 1 *' The Moscow correspondent of ,tha Associated Press says that German armoured reserves are being ground „■ down at the rate-of nearly a panzer ;; division daily.-We^Rcd . day tightened its-grip the «««•.: * continuing to throw; in heavy t®*antey B & attacks In a desperate. tempt tobrinj the Russian offenavae