BALTIC BATTLES NEAR END

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 2, 27 September 1944, Page 7

BALTIC BATTLES NEAR END

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.! LONDON, September 25. The Russians in Western and Southern Estonia have captured the last port remaining to the enemy, Hapsal, 55 miles south-west of Tallinn, and Moisekul, 32 miles east-south-east of Parnu, besides more than 800 other places, says the Soviet communique. Hapsal, where the Germans had hurriedly concentrated shipping for the evacuation of their trapped Estonianarmies, is Estonia’s third largest port. Russian troops operating toward the Gulf of Riga have taken over 300 places. . ■ , ■ ■ The days of the Germans in the Baltic Republics are numbered, says the “Pravda.” The advance to the Gulf of Riga is so swift that the German calculations for a prolonged defence of the coast were upset. Tanks set the pace of the offensive and pursued the enemy, not allowing him to recover. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that the fall of Riga is only a matter of days.

Large German forces are now being concentrated in tlie Estonian islands, Vonns, Dago (or Hiiu), and Osel (or Saare), winch almost close the entrance of the Gulf of Riga, in an attempt to drag the battle of the Baltic out to.the bitter end.

The Germans have lost practically the whole of Estonia, but as long as they hold the island, the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Riga will be still under their control. They may also try to evacuate the remnants of their troops from the mainland to one or other of these islands. It is expected that the struggle for the islands will be bitter, as the .Russians do not intend to leave them in enemy hands. ■ , . „. , ■ Possible Invasion of Reich.

The flaring up of battle on the Lithuanian frontier of East Prussia. heralds a possible large-scale Russian invasion of the Reich, states the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. Violent fighting now going on near Eydtkuhnen seems like the preliminary round. General Maslennikov’s troops, who yesterday seized Volmar, have advanced to the Gulf of Riga and are now merging with General Govorov s Estonian army, which has completely liberated the first of the Baltic Republics. These two great Russian armies are preparing, to swing into the final assault against Riga, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Some of Maslennikovs vanguards are already investing the suburbs of Riga. , The Berlin radio commentator, von Hammer, stated that 1000 Russian tanks are concentrated west of Jelgava to be thrown into a great break-through to the Gulf of Riga.