Encircling Belgrade

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 84, 6 October 1944, Page 5

Encircling Belgrade

FORCES REPORTED TO BE IN CITY

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrfflht.) Bee. 10.45 a.m. • . LONDON, October 5. The Russians and Yugoslavs early today were encircling Belgrade hi a «joint drive to seal off all the escape routes .from the capital, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Marshal Tito's patriots, operating in the Avala sector 18 miles south of Belgrade, routed a German column. Red Army columns are simultaneously converging on the city from the east,, north-east, and north, while another force is wheeling north-westward to.cut the main German escape route through Szeged to Budapest. - Rome radio stated that the Russians are in the streets of Belgrade, where street fighting is going on. This is not confirmed from any other source, Major yon. Hammer, speaking' over Berlin radio, said that the ;; expected large-scale Russian attack -against OseT Island in the Baltic began this morning from Moon Island, which the Russians already occupied. Yon Hammer said: "Seven Russian divisions are participating in the action. . '

"Heavy fighting was raging at noon . 5n the landing areas. The Russians _ are using several hundred assault Loats." ■

Yon Hammer also announced that an all-out Russian offensive which had been expected for many days be•gan this morning west of Siauliai. Four tank corps and from 12 to 14 rifle divisions were concentrated for the attack. The Red Army breached the German positions north-west of , 'Siauliar and fierce fighting was going on. [Siauliai was captured by the (Russians during the -summer cam>paign. It. is 87 miles east of Memel »and the same distance north-east of Tilsit.] ' Reuter points out that a Red Army ■assault in this sector constitutes a tthreat to "the German forces in the '•Riga area and north Lithuania, and 'also to the north border of East Prussia. .Vbn Hammer added that, the Russians also pushed strong tank and iniantry forces into the Narew River -sector. A major attack in this area also had to be reckoned with. The Moscow communique says the -Russians have liberated the big town of Pancevo, eight miles north-east of Belgrade, and a' mile or so from the north bank of the Danube. The Russians have captured 76 German aircraft on airfields during the .[advance on Belgrade during the past few days. The Moscow communique Adoes not snention' any other sector of the Eastern Front.