EASTERN FRONT

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24503, 28 February 1945, Page 7

EASTERN FRONT

.GERMAN REPORT OF RIVER CROSSINGS /RUSSIANS CLEAR MORE OF bresCau (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) • (Roe. 11.15 p.m,) LONDON, Feb. 27. The Germans report that the Red Army has made new* crossings ,of the river NfeiSse near the tcWn of Forst, about 80 miles south-east of Berlin. There is no confirmation this report from Moscow, nor of a German report Of a great tank battle ntear Lauban, 70 miles west of Breslau. The German report said that Marshal KonieV’s troop* had entered Lfeuban. A Russian supplementary communique reports that more than 1000 Germans were killed* and 300 taken prisoner in street fighting in Breslau in the last 24 hours,. The Russians occupied Hindenburg square and the Breslau tram depot. / . Monday night’s Soviet communique Said:- ’ . ' “The Russians on the Samland, Pen* ipsula (north-west of Konigsbetg) repelled strong tank and infantry attacks and captured several places, The Russians in-the areas north-west and-south-west of Konjgsberg destroyed 69 > “Fighting ’ continued in the Breslau area for the destruction' of the* encircled enemy; Fifteen bleaks of houses Were captured.” . “Germany is now caught in a huge pincer. That is the view Moscow is how taking of the war,”, says the Moscow • Correspondent of the, British United Press, “The Russians consider that the Allies In the West 5 will now be able to link up their operations With those of the Red -Army in the “Although there Is at present a comparative lull on the Eastern Front, all the Russian armies along-the line are regarded as having reached the complete -operative stage," ‘ - The Exchange Telegraph Agency’s Correspondent in. quoting reports from Berlin, confirm*'that the. German people have; cOme to realise that the fighting in the east and west hstf been carefully co-ordinated. It has also become obvious to,the Qer-, mans that the increased Russian activity in Pomerania is designedto defer up Marshal Zhukov’s, northern fiankin preparation for a drive against Berlin. - Germans Reinforce centre Widespread Rhsslan scouting operations along both Marshal ZhukoV’s and

Mershal Konlev’s fronts Have disclosed that the Germans along the central front have brought up more heavy reinforcements, of men and.equipment •to positions behind .the Oder-3ptee defence line, which has ■ the Nelsse river: line as itir front screen, according to Red Army front line dispatches quoted' by 'the Moscow correspondent of the Associated -press; maflmtion to thousands of troops, including, men of thCi VolksSturihK: we Germans . have brought up every type of artillery, tanks’ and anti-tjhjk devices. Their trenches are .studded with machme.gun and light,artillery posts .and the land for mites behind the Spree is thickly mined; ' "General Guderian’s northern army is falling back to the Baltic along, a 180-mile front," reported Reuter s.cor.restiohdent in Moscow yesterday. “The Red Army is within 20 miles of Stettin and 30 miles of Banzig; . - The German commentator, von Hammer, admitted that powerful Russian forces had, made a, deep, breach b&tWeeh Chojnice and LOndeck, in the sector about % miles south-west of D "Afeature of the fighting. On all the Baltic fronts is the complexity and extent of the German field fortifications,” said the Moscow correspondent of “The. Times.’’ "Foreign .workers from all parts of' Europe are. engaged in digging them,; The Germans, in;defiance of the Geneva Convention, made French prisoners Cf war dig front-line defences under shell-fire. A qualified Russian investigator has drawn up an official act accusing the Germans -i using 800 Jewish women, including, inhabitants of Prague and .Amsterdam and members of the Secretariat of the League of Nations, for work on fortifications, and of Wiling ■•them baore the German retreat by the inJection of carbolic’ acid. One .hundred and fifty victims are said to have survived, but to be in such a condition that few are expected to live long.