Soviet Forces Ready

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 75, 26 September 1944, Page 5

Soviet Forces Ready

"MATTER OF DAYS"

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, September.2s. 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. Reuters Moscow correspondent says that the fall of Riga is only a matter of days. * Large German forces are now being concentrated in the Estonian islands, Vorms, Dago (or Hiiu), and Osel (or'Saare), which 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. •

The flaring up of battle on the Lithuanian frontier of East Prussia heralds a possible large-scale Russian invasion of thr "" Vh, states the Moscow correspond. ..t o.f the Associated Press. Violent lighting now gqing 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 Maslennikov's. vanguards are already investing "the suburbs of Riga. The tremendous' power and speed of the Russians' Baftic drive is shown by the fact that Red Army units which took the port of Parnu made a fighting march of 50, miles without a halt, and captured the sawmills and textile factories in the port intact.

The Berlin radio commentator, yon Hammer, stated that 1000 Russian tanks are concentrated west of Jelgava to be thrown into a great break-through to the Gulf of Riga. Tonight's Russian communique announces the capture of Hapsal, Estonia s third largest port. Altogether, in their Baltic offensive today the Red Army liberated well over a thousand Sfw in w^tern and southern Estonia alone, they took more than 800 towns and villages. Other troops operating towards the Gulf of Riga have taken over 300 places.