RIGA OBJECTIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1944, Page 5

RIGA OBJECTIVE

RUSSIANS POURING THROUGH

FALL A MATTER OF DAYS

(Rec. 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 25. . The Russians in the drive to the Gulf of Riga are pouring streams through the gaps torn in the German defences, says “Pravda.” The days of the Germans in the Baltic Republics are numbered. The advance to the Gulf of Riga was so swift that German calculations for the. prolonged defence of the coast were upset. Tanks set the tempo of the offensive, and pursued the enemy, not allowing him to recover.

Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the fall of Riga is only a matter of days. Large German forces are now concentrating in the Estonian Islands of Vorms, Dago and Osel, which are almost close to the entrance of the Gulf of Riga. In the attempt to drag the Battle of the Baltic out to the bitter end, the Germans lost practically the whole of Estonia, but as long as They hold these islands in the Gulf of Finland, Riga will still be under their control. They may also try to evacuate remnants of troops from the mainland to one or other of these islands. It is expected the struggle for the islands will be bitter, as the Russians do not intend to leave them in the enemy’s hands. The flaring up of the battle on the Lithuanian frontier and East Prussia heralds a possible large-scale . Russian invasion of the Reich, states the Associated Press Moscow correspondent. The violent fighting going on near Eydtkuhnan seems the preliminary round for an all-out Russians’ smash. ESTONIA LIBERATED. (Rec. 11.25 a.m.~LONDON, Sept. 25. Maslennikov’s troops, who yesterday seized Volmar, have advanced to the Gulf of Riga, and are now merging with Govorov’s Estonian Army, which has completely liberated'the first Baltic Republic. These two great Russian armies are preparing to swing into the final assault against Riga, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. Some of rhe power and speed of the Russians’ Baltic 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 port’s sawmills and textile factories intact. The Berlin radio commentator, von Hammer, stated that 1000 Russian tanks are concentrated west of Jelgava to be thrown into the great break-through to the Gulf of Riga. LAST PORT CAPTURED. (Rec. 2.0 p.m.) LONDON, September 25. Russians in Western and Southern Esthonia captured the last port remaining to the enemy, Haapsalu, 55 miles south-west of Tallinn, and Moisekul, 32' miles east-south-east of Parnu, besides over 800 other places, says a Soviet communique. The Red Army west of Rukja and Volmar captured 200 places and also occupied Jaunkipene, 38 miles east of Riga. The Russians south-east and south of Sanok, after overcoming fortifications in wooded mountainous country captured 50 places. A Finnish communique states: The Finns advanced in Northern Finland and captured Suomussalmi. WARSAW”siTUATION.

LONDON, September 24. “Soviet liaison officers are cooperating with the Polish Underground Army in three main areas of Polish resistance in Warsaw,” states a communique from the headquarters of General Bor. “The situation in the city is without change. “Increased enemy movements have been observed near Wilanow, and units of the 2nd Polish Infantry Division engaged in relentless fighting in the Kielce area. In the Radom area the enemy is deporting the male population and mass requisitibning catlie. The Germans are massing in the Tarnow Jaslo area.” LATER. Moscow correspondents say that the territorial situation around Warsaw shows no vital change, except in the southern districts of the city, where the Germans have withdrawn from their front lines. General Bor's communique reports that Warsaw, which was the first city the Germans bombed when in 1939 they marched into Poland, is now living through another shattering bombardment, this time from Russian guns. The Germans have also mounted guns on railway wagons from which they are maintaining a harassing fire against the Partisans’ positions. LITHUANIAN-POLISH PACT. LONDON, September 25. An agreement has been signed between the Lithuanian Soviet Republic and the Polish Committee of National Liberation for the voluntary evacuation of the Lithuanian population from Polish territory and Polish citizens from Lithuanian territory. The evacuees will be compensatecj for property left behind, relieved of taxation for two years, and provided with employment.

SOSNKOWSKI’S DISMISSAL

LONDON, Sept. 23

•‘The Polish Cabinet yesterday unanimously passed a resolution requesting President Paczkiewic to call for the resignation of the Commander-in-Chief (General ‘ Sosnkowski),” says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. “President Paczkiewic is expected to agree to the Cabinet’s request. The Cabinet’s action brings to a head the political crisis which arose when General Sonkowski without consulting the Government issued as order of the day criticising the assistance the Allies had given to the Polish home forces in Warsaw.”

' INVASION OF HUNGARY.

LONDON, September 25. The invasion of Hungary has started.

Russian and Rumanian forces last night crossed the frontier of Hungary and Transylvania near Arad. This is announced in a Rumanian communique quoted by the Bucharest radio.

The Hungarian News Agency admits that Russian and Rumanian troops are advancing on the border of Hungary proper and says that “the Hungarians are up against superior enemy forces.” Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that the stiffest battle in the Red Army's advance to the Hungarian frontier 4s raging at the railway junction of Arad, 15 miles from the* border. The Germans and the Hungarians have thrown in fresh divisions in an effort to check the Russians.