POWERFUL BLOW

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 282, 25 August 1944, Page 5

POWERFUL BLOW

Russians Storm Down Black Sea Coast LONDON, August 23. In an order of the day addressed to General Malinovsky, Marshal Stalin states: “As the result of an impetuous blow, tanks and troops of the Second Ukrainian Front today captured Vaslui, an important centre of communications and a strong defence base between the Rivers Sereth and Prutli.” In a second order of the day, this time addressed to General Tolbukhin, Marshal Stalin says: “Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, continuing the offensive, today carried by assault the towns of Akkerman and Tighina (or Bender), which are important stronghol.ds in the German defences on the lower Dniester.” “The German and Rumanian lines on both sectors where the Russian armies are driving on the Galatz gap are showing further signs of crumbling,” stated the Moscow correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph. “There are thousands of German dead everywhere, and vast quantities of abandoned enemy war material. Russian tanks, infantry, and guns are moving on steadily to the southwest, under the protection of a great aerial umbrella.” Reuter's Moscow correspondent says that the Third Ukrainian Amy outflanked the Black Sea port of Akkerman. The German garrison is reported to have a corridor 25 miles wide through which it could escape. The Russian drive is also threatening other Black Sea ports— Sulina and Constanta—which the Red Air Force has been bombing. Sudden and Overpowering. The Red Army is storming toward the Galatz gap in a great two-way offensive which has brought Kishinev in the centre of a huge, swiftly-tightening sack, and has carried the fighting to within less than 50 miles of the Danube delta. The Russian blows were sudden and overpowering, and the Soviet air superiority was specially telling. On the first day of the offensive the Russians made 2000 sorties compared with operations by only 13 enemy planes. Moscow reports that the Black Sea Fleet Air Arm made a concentrated raid against Constanta. By direct hits, two enemy transports, four fast landingbarges, and three torpedo-cutters were sunk. Au oil refinery and adjoining stores were destroyed. Furthermore, an auxiliary cruiser, one tanker, one large transport, and other vessels were damaged.