MOUTH OF ODER REACHED

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 138, 8 March 1945, Page 7

MOUTH OF ODER REACHED

Swift Russian Push GERMANS SHOWING ANXIETY (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received March 7, 8 p.m.) LONDON, March 6. Advancing 30 miles within 24 hours, Marshal Zhukov’s north- • western spearheads have captured Kammin at the mouth of the Oder, on the most easterly arm of the estuary two miles from the Baltic. The fortress of Grudziats (Graudenz), 55 miles south ot Stettin, has also been seized. The German news agency’s war reporter, Egon Radetta, admitted that Marshal Zhukov’s thrust to Kammin had cut off numer rous German forces. “Strong German forces to the east are now cut off from all communications and are facing an enemy who strongly outnumbers them,’’ be said. A military correspondent says the, chief significance of captured Graudenz is that the communication lines feeding the Russian troops striking northward at Danzig are now cleared.

A German military spokesman is the only source to mention the central sector opposite Berlin. He said: "Developments betiveeil Gorlitz and Luban seem to indicate that Marshal Koniev will shortly begin his new offensive in that sector.” Marshal Stalin in an order of the day announcing the capture of Kammin, also revealed the seizure of a series of towns along the coast and hinterland as far as Belgard, which is 20 miles south-east of Kilberg and on the fringe of Marshal Rokossovsky’s front. Towns captured,

which are important communications centres, were Gluzow, 12 miles south-east of Kammin, Plathe, 20 miles north of Naugard, Greifenburg, 15 miles south of the Baltic, Treptow, six miles from the Baltic, and 14 miles south-east of Kilberg. Reuter comments that these. captures confirm earlier German admissions that the Red Army has cleared most of Pomerania between the Oder and the Danzig pocket. . The Berlin radio commentator, Major von Hammer, said the Russians had reached the Baltic in the Neuwasser area. They have cut, and advanced beyond, the Schlawekoslin road. Both Stettin and Koenigsberg were attacked last night by Russian heavy bombers.

OBSTACLE REMOVED

Moscow Fires Victory Salute (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY,, March 6. A very necessary piece of clearing up of the northern Russian front has been achieved by the capture of Graudenz. This fortress, for some time, has been a thorn in the side of Marshal Rokossovsky’s forces on the Second White Russian Front striking north and west Moscow is saluting the victory with 20 salvoes from 224 guns. With a population of 40,000 Graudenz possesses several machine building factories. Graudenz, which is on the lower Vistula. had been encircled for two weeks. With it were captured 5000 German prisoners. Marshal Stalin, ,iu his order of the day, says, “Troops of the Second White Russian Front, after a two weeks’ siege, and stubborn battles, completed the rout of the encircled enemy groupings and today occupied the town and fortress of Grudziadz, a powerful stronghold ot German resistance on the Lower Vistula. In the course of the buttles the commandant oi the fortress with his staff was captured.