Late War News GERMANS ROUTED

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 6, 2 October 1944, Page 6

Late War News GERMANS ROUTED

First Big Battle In Yugoslavia RED ARMY THRUST (By Telegraph,—Press Assn. —Copyright.) I Received October 2, 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 1. ' A double thrust into the heart of Yugoslavia is being developed by the Russians who routed the Germans iu (he first big battle on Yugoslav soil, says the British, United Press Moscow’ correspondent. The Soviet advance, which is believed to be aimed at Belgrade, 90 miles distant, is outflanking the German defences facing the Bulgarian border, while Marshal Tolbukhin's troops concentrated in eastern Bulgaria will be able to join in whenever the moment is ripe. The German defences at the Iron Gate are similarly being outflanked by Marshal Malinovsky’s troops who, after crossing the Danube below the Iron Gate, turned its southern end, fanning out westward and southward. They have presumably linked up with Marshal Tito’s forces. The Moscow “Red Star,” describing the crossing of the Danube, says the Russians used fishing boats and thousands of inflated craft. Red infantrj- swept across the river, with mortars, machineguns, and light artillery. Yugoslav patriots, according to Marshal Tito’s communique, have reached the Hungarian frontier on a 24-milc front, between Slatina and. Virovitica. The Red Army, with the co-operation of Bulgarian forces, have begun the occupation of Greek Thrace, and are creatinf Communist local administrations, says the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s Istanbul correspondent. A German war reporter says: “After taking Fraga, the Russians forced their way into Warsaw itself. Our divebombers and. artillery arc creating bedlam inside the city. SUCCESS FOR PARTISANS LONDON, December 29. The Yugoslav Partisans are on the approaches to Belgrade, capital of 'Yugoslavia, where they have routed a force of Germans and Chetniks, says the Free Yugoslav radio. Chetniks and members of the so-called Home Guard are coming over to the Army of Liberation en masse: 55,000 of them had responded to Marshal Tito’s call by September 16, and more are still joining. New units of the People’s Army of Liberation are being formed every day. The radio announced the liberation of the port of Jablanac, an important centre of communications to Fiume.