BALTIC FRONT

Evening Star, Issue 25301, 9 October 1944, Page 5

BALTIC FRONT

RUSSIANS ON THE MOVE FULL-SCALE OFFENSIVE LAUNCHED 63-MILE ADVANCE IN LITHUANIA (Rec. 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8. A big Soviet offensive in the Siaulia; area (85 miles east of fflemei) was revealed by Marshal Stalin in an order of the day addressed to General Bagramyan. He announced; *' Troops ot the First Baltic front and tne Third White Russian front launched an offensive north-west and south-west of Siau- . liai. They broke through stronglyfortified defences in four days and advanced upward of 63 miles, enlarged the breach to a width of 175 miles,' and occupied over 2,000 localities, including Telshi." The Russian offensive is believed to represent a drive to cut the Germans'remaining escape route along the coast, says the British United Press. German reports say that the (Russians in this sector are attacking with 300,000 men on a front of nearly 80 miles, striking for the coast and Memel, and threatening East Prussia., The Russians on the island of Osel continued the offensive and occupied another 40 localities, says a Soviet communique. The Red army in the direction of Riga occupied over 60 places, and south of Pultusk, on the bank of . tho Narew River, successfully repelled infantry and.tank attacks. FIGHTING IN HUNGARY. In Hungary north and west of Bekescaba the Russians developed their successful andoccupied the towns and railway junctions of Mezotur, Szentes, Hodmezovasarhely, and Szarvas, also 150 other places. The Russians on Friday and Saturday took over 4,000 enemy prisoners. The Red army, with units of the Yugoslav Army of Liberation' fighting in Yugoslavia southwest of Turnu Severin,. occupied nine localities. The Russians completely liquidated the enemy forces encircled in j the areas of Klokocevac and Zajecar. ! The Red air force last night heavily 1 raided Breslau, and caused many fires | and explosions in . the vicinity of the I gas works and metallurgical factories.