RUSSIAN-CZECH ADVANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 165, 10 April 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN-CZECH ADVANCE

Frontier Reached In Carpathians

WIDE NEW GAIN IN RUMANIA ' (British Official Wireless.) (Received April 9, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, April 8. Marshal Zhukov’s forces have reached the Soviet State frontier where it meets Czechoslovakia and Rumania on a front of 130 miles, and also have captured the town of Seret and 30 other localities in Rumania. This has been announced by Marshal Stalin in an order of the day, which says that the enemy forces in the Carpathian foothills have been routed. Seret is about 25 miles south of Cernauti. Moscow reports that the spearhead forces include the Czechoslovak Brigade. In a second order of the day, Marshal Stalin announces that Marshal Koniev’s troops have occupied the towns of Dorohoi and Botoshani, well across the upper Pruth south-east of Cernauti. They have crossed the Pruth north of Jassy on a sector of 106 miles, broken through the enemy s defence and taken mere than 150 localities. In pursuit of the enemy the Soviet troops have reached the River Seret on a front of 53 miles. The Seret, running south-eastward, joins the Danube at Galatz.

The Russians have occupied Mayaki, west of Odessa, and this, according to the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press will finally seal the encirclement of the Germans still remaining at Odessa. Some 100,000 Germans were recently concentrated in the great box round the port, and it seems unlikely that any large number has been able to escape to the west. Odessa is virtually isolated on all land approaches following a swift advance by tlie Russians yesterday to the neck of the Dniester estuary, west of the city, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The Red Air Force is now pounding the enemy’s ferry link with the rear across the estuary, which has become all but useless to the Germans.

The Germans withdrawing to Odessa arc fighting yard by yard, but the Russians are expected to establish soon a complete arc round the city. The Germans are reported to possess a strong defence system protecting Odessa. Vichy radio has admitted that the German rearguards in the Odessa region are lighting a delaying action to cover the withdrawal of the main body of the German forces.

The Russians are reported to be in control of the Odessa water supply. They are now eight miles from the city.

ENEMY IN THREE TRAPS One Force Wiped Out (Received April 9, 7 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. Moscow announced yesterday that the Russians had surrounded between .six and seven enemy divisions north of Razdelnnya, the railway junction between Odessa and Tiraspol,, and in two days’ lighting had killed more than 5000 men and captured 1000. Today it is announced that the encircled force has been pushed back against a swollen river and wiped out. About,3ooo surrendered, 7000 were found dead on the battlefield, and others were drowned in an attempt to swim the river. The encircled German forces in the Skala and Tarnopol areas continue to resist. A supplementary Moscow communique says that the Germans today suffered heavy casualties south-west of Tarnopol. Fierce fighting continued all day, some localities changing hands several times. The ’■Pravda’’ says that the Germans who are attempting to break out of the Skala trap have changed their tactics and are now attacking with smaller forces on a number of sectors simultaneously, feeling for weak places in the Soviet ring. Mass formations stand behind the spearheads ready to rush our if the spearheads obtain a success. German units which here and there managed to drive a wedge in the ring are being cut off and destroyed. The Russian shells are causing havoc among the German infantry and are smashing up tank columns and lorries. During yesterday the Germans in the Skala pocket lost '4OOO killed. SWITCH TO BOMBS Artillery’s Mud Problem In South LONDON, April 7. General Malinovsky, taking advantage of frosty nights, has been leap-frogging toward Odessa, throwing troops forward at night time over roads which arc quagmires by the following noou when the sun has melted them. The Red Air Force has taken the lead in the battle for Odessa, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. With the plains before the city dangerously soft. Malinovsky has switched the big weight of his striking force from artillery to bombers. He is also using hundreds of tiny single-engined U2 biplanes to supply his forces. Reuter’s Istanbul correspondent reports that German airborne troops from .Salonika have completed the occupation of the Bulgarian Black Sea port of Varna, 245 miles by sea from Odessa. German Reserves. Vichy radio quotes a Berlin military spokesman as saying: "The German High Command hurled many freslt divisions into the main battle centres on the eastern front, and it appears that the German line is now stabilized. ‘"This is tba first time the German High Command has thrown important strategic reserves into the lighting in Russia. These reserves have been specially mobilized for the fighting in Russia. Not one German division has been switched to the eastern front from western or southern Europe.” 'The German news agency's commentator, von Hammer, asserted that the gap in the German front between Tarnopol and Cernauti had been closed "after the relief of the garrison at Kovel.” He also claimed that German and Hungarian troops had recaptured several places south of Stanislavov. Tonight’s .Soviet communique says that west of Skala the Russians captured live Junkers 52 transport planes. 17 guns, seven tanks, and 14(10 motor-vehicles. The Russians in the Kishinev sector, after two days of fighting, captured the important German stronghold of Orgicyev. 23 miles north of Kichinev. The Bed Army on the Odessa sector fought its way into over 00 places. including Belityevka, 22 miles west of Odessa. At the railway station of Veselykut the Russians captured 1100 wagons loaded with equipment, including foodstorage and factory equipment which the Gormans were removing from Odessa to Germany. The Russians, after the capture of Razdelnaya. took 44 guns and much booty. Moscow radio says that the Soviet troops at, Veselykut captured an enemy train loaded with 25 German tanks. Troops of the .same formation captured 4(H) motor-cars. 150 motor-cycles, and 30 guns. At: Orgicyev also the Germans lost great booty after retreating in panic. Helsinki radio .reported that 30 Russian bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked Kotka today, causing damage and casualties.

CALL TO NATION

Help Pave Way For Liberation LONDON, April 9. After live years of German and Hungarian domination, the Czechoslovak nation is being urged to help the liberating forces by every means in their power. General Ingr, the Czechoslovakian Minister of War, less than two hours after Marshal Stalin’s order of the day, broadcast from London over the 8.8.C.’s service to Czechoslovakia an appeal to the people of Sub-Carpathian Ruthenia to aid the Red Army. "The Red Army, with the independent Czechoslovakian Brigade, has reached the frontier, and the Czechoslovakian flag has been hoisted on the top of the Carpathians,” he said. "The Czechs must use all means, not only passive resistance and intensified sabotage but also direct action againsc the enemy and his organization, to help pave the way for the work of the Allied army. "Behind the victorious forces of the Red Army and Czech Army there will come —as soon as the military situation allows —organs of the Czech Government to take over the administration of the liberated territory according to the Czech laws. These bodies will collaborate closely with the national committees which till their coming will, together with the Russian and Czech army commanders, ensure order and security on Czech territory.” Dr. Benes has sent a message to Marshal .Stalin conveying cordial greetings on “the new great victory.” The British United Press diplomatic correspondent says that the Czech Government in London has for some time been ceaselessly broadcasting instructions to Czech officers hidden in the Ruthenian Mountains who were awaiting the Red Army’s arrival. CZECHOSLOVAK JOY Long-Awaited Day Nearer “The long-hoped for day of the liberation of Czechoslovakia comes nearer with the entry of Czechoslovak troops into their homeland,” stated the president of the Association of Czechoslovaks in New Zealand, Dr. Steiner, in Wellington, last night. "Czechoslovaks not only in New Zealand but all over the world, aie following the progress of the army of liberation. “Passive resistance is to be changed to active resistance. Hopes for an early liberation have been strengthened. Old memories are revived, cities, villages, rivers, mountains are recalled as the progress of the advancing army is followed with joy bl every living Czechoslovak.” The association has sent a cable to Dr. Edward Benes stating: "The sincerest wishes and hopes of all Czechoslovaks in New eZaland are with our soldiers entering our homeland.”

REPORTED ACROSS SERET

Red Army’s Progress (Received April 9, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 9. Moscow radio, shortly after the issue of the second order of the day, said: “The Red Army will soon emerge along the entire length of our State frontier, clearing the hated invader from all the Soviet land. The Red Army banners flying beyond the Pruth demonstrate to the world our determination to bring retribution to our foes.”

The Russians, according to Marshal Stalin’s two orders of the day, have forced the Pruth over a front totalling about 230 miles, meaning that the whole cf the Pruth practically up to a point opposite Jassy is now well behind the Russian lines, says the British United Press.

The Russians, by reaching the Seret River over such a wide front, have now outflanked a German and Rumanian line on the Kijia River, along which the enemy hoped to hold the Russian advance into the flat country of eastern Rumania. The Russians are now in a position to strike at the rear of the enemy’s forces and push them back. One report today says the Russians have broken across the Seret River in the direction of one of the mountain gaps to the north-west. Wehrmacht's Failure.

“The Russians, in spite of terrible weather conditions, are firmly established beyond the Pruth River,” says lite “Pravda.” “The abundance of forests and the very weak network of roads add Io the difficulties of our troops, but Marshal Koniev’s offensive continues to develop. "Over the area from the Carpttlliians and our south-west border wilh Czechoslovakia and Ruinaniti Io the villages round Tarnopol, which are covered with snow, columns of German prisoners are marching. They have become part, of the landscape. Gloomy and methodical, they can hardly move their legs. Nobody pays any at (ention Io them.”

The "Pravda” in u leading article says: "The whole worth is now witnessing the complete failure of I lie German defensive strategy. The Red Army continues to advance successfully, giving tlie Germans no chance to prolong the war.”