ON THE DANUBE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 284, 28 August 1944, Page 5

ON THE DANUBE

Red Army’s Swift Progress NEAR GALATZ GAP (Received August 27, 7 p.m,) LONDON, August 26. Marshal Stalin, in an order -of the day addressed to General Tolbukhin, announced that troops of the Third Ukrainian Front, developing their offensive, captured on Saturday the town and fortress of Ismail, an important strongpoint iu the German defence on the lower reaches of the Danube. Ismail is half-way between the mouth of the Danube and Galatz. The Russians have thus reached the southern eiid of Bessarabia, and recovered practically all the territory inside the frontier established by them in the summer of 1940.

The Red Army has also captured Chiiia, -which is situated on the northern arm of the Danube delta 16 miles inland and 57 miles east of Galatz.

Moscow radio, detailing, tho annihilation of the 12 enemy divisions encircled south-west of Kishinev, says tho Red Army is tightening the huge ring around the German forces and chopping them up into isolated groups. Soviet tanks and dive-bombers one by one are reducing tho centres of resistance. Prisoners state that the trapped troops are suffering from lack of ammunition, a shortage of artillery and lack of medical supplies and hospitals.

The Russian supplementary communique states that the Germans south-west of Jelgava regrouped and replenished their battered divisions and launched 11 attacks throughout the day against the Russian positions but were repulsed. Troops of tlie Second Ukrainian Front west of Roman reached the Distritu river on a broad front, and north of Focsani crossed the Seret river and captured Adjud. The Germans in this region are retreating in disorder and the number of prisoners is rising hourly. The enemy encircled south-west of Kishinev again tried to break out toward the Prut river crossings, but everywhere was beaten back. The Germans are now hemmed in isolated pockets and under constant bombing -and artillery fire. They arc suffering enormous losses. Towns near the front-line roads leading to the rear are crammed with columns of prisoners.

Russian planes raided Vardovadso in northern Norway. Prospects of Resistance.

It is believed in London that the 12 German divisions surrounded near Kishinev are probably more than half of the total German forces in Rumania. This being so, the German chances of holding a line from the Danube delta through Galatz to the bend of the Carpathians do not seem good. Indeed, the enemy may soon b e unable to hold anything cast Of Bucharest. The Rumanian communique says that powerful German forces moved against Bucharest. The Rumanians counter-at-tacked trad encircled an enemy-held zone. The liquidation of the enemy is imminent, “Our comradeship in arms with the great Allies was inaugurated by 400 British and American bombers and fighters, which supported our attack. The enemy tried to reinforce his troops in Bucharest with a powerful group which forced the Danube at Giurgiu. Violent reaction from our defences, compelled the enemy to withdraw from Giurgiu southward of the Danube. The German air force continued its attacks against Bucharest, destroying cultural institutions and inflicting many casualties.” Allied Air Support.

Escorted Allied heavy bombers on Saturday operated in support of the Rumanians defending Bucharest against German attacks, reports a Rome correspondent. Fighters swept the’area around the capital. Moscow radio says the German mission and other Germans in Bucharest have been interned. The Germans shelled the city with anti-aircraft guns for the lack of other artillery. Military installations arc being built in Transylvania by Germans and Hungarians. Rumanians are blocking the approaches to the Carpathians where the Germans are trying to retreat westward. A. German military spokesman quoted by the .German overseas news agency says Soviet forces continue to advance from Bessarabia southward and occupied localities above the northern Prut which runs into the Danube east of Balati. German torpedo boats on the Danube repelled Russian offensive thrusts over the Danube delta. The German news agency's common, tator von Hammer reports that the Russians have launched n general offensive with 12 to 14 infantry divisions and several tanks corps, probably totalling 150,000 men, on a 40 to 50 miles front east of Warsaw. General Bors’ communique slates that a heavy bombardment of Warsaw by guns, mortars and from the air continued on Friday. There were numerous local fierce engagements. On the whole both sides hold their previous positions.