FALL OF OSTROV

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 254, 24 July 1944, Page 5

FALL OF OSTROV

Battle For Lvov Reaching Peak LONDON. July 21. The Russians captured the German base of Ostrov near the Latvian border today, it is announced by Marshal Stalin in an Order of the Day addressed to the Third Baltic Army. The Red Army is consolidating the foundation for three great ■ victories, says the British United Press correspondent. Firstly, in the north, the Russians north and south of Alytus are entrenching themselves in bridgeheads on the west bank of the Niemen River for the final dash to the East Prussian border. Second, in Ihe centre. Brest Litovsk is threatened with one of the greatest encirclements of the war: and third, iu the south, the fall of Lvov cannot long be delayed. The battle for Lvov is reaching its peak, with Russian artillery blasting the way for infantry and tanks which are hammering against the city’s outer defences. reports the Exchange Telegraph agency’s Moscow correspondent, “Red Star” says the hour is near when the entire Baltic States will again be flying the red banner. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia were, and always will be, Soviet. There is no power on earth strong enough to tear the Baltic nations from the great Soviet family. Moscow radio announced that the Russian submarines to April 1 sank about

•HO ships totalling over 2.000,000 tons. The Baltic fleet sank more than 1000 ships. The Baltic Air Arm destroyed 1000 ships and 5308 planes.