RUSSIAN FRONTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 November 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN FRONTS

MOST PROGRESS IN SOUTH

DEADLOCK IM E. PRUSSIA

RUGBY, October 31. “The process of expelling the Germans from occupied lands and preparing the way for new offensives goes on without a pause on the Eastern Front, particularly on the southern flank. The Germans remaining in Jugoslavia are being harried and. driven from all parts of the coufitry: Most of Serbia is already free and Partisans are striving to cut the German route of retreat through Macedonia. Jugoslav guerrillas are also becoming more active in Croatia. The Russian front in Jugoslavia runs along the Danube from just above Novi Sad to Baja, but the Russians are advancing up the right bank of the river from Belgrade. “In Hungary the Russian front runs north-eastward from Baja to the river Tisa, and the former German salient in Ruthenia is now virtually ironed out. The only activity in the central part of the front is the Russian advance further into the angle formed by the Vistula and Bug Rivers in Poland, north of Warsaw. “In East Prussia the Russians have been occupied in beating off strong counter-attacks.”

'■ In spite of the loss of their chief town, Banska Bystrica, Czechoslovak patriots in Slovakia intend to fight on. This is conveyed in a message from General Viest, who commands the patriot forces, ro President Benes. Communication between patriot fighting units in Slovakia still exists,

but they have withdrawn into the mountains.

The Germans report fierce fighting in Hungary and say that advancing Russians have reached a point within 45 miles of Budapest. This is the nearest the Russians have been reported to Budapest. The Germans also speak of new Soviet attacks on the Narew front along the south-east-ern approaches to East Prussia.

PINCERS CLOSING

(Rec. 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. Two great Red Army claws are reaching round Germany’s east front flank bastions—Hungary and East Prussia. A Rumanian High Command communique revealing the progress of the southern arm against Hungary says: ‘■’Rumanians and Russians are continuing the advance across the Hungarian Plain between the Tisa and Danube Rivers. Operations are developing favourably.” The Berlin radio commentator admitted the Russians had fought a way into Kacskemet, 50 miles south-east of Budapest, and added: “The Russians by the employment of at least twelve motorised corps and several tank brigades succeeded in pushing back the German-Hungarian lines. Russians and Rumanians are bringing up fresh armour to prise open the Hungarian defence zone.” Von Hammer also revealed that a great Red Army feeler was probing the lower side of East Prussia. He said the Russians revived the offensive from the Narew River front, the main attacks coming from both sides of Putulsk. The British United Press points out that a break-through from the Narew Line would enable the Russians to bypass East Prussia from the south and make for Danzig, or by turning south get to the rear of Warsaw, thereby breaking the present Vistula impasse. “The Times’s” Moscow correspondent states the Russians are maintaining a security silence about the operations on nearly all parts of the front. Latest dispatches from the East Prussian front report that a steady stream of Russian troops and supplies is moving up. Russian experts are making a detailed examination of the formidable German defences in East Prussia which, according to the Moscow radio, have an over-all depth of 75 to 100 miles.

LATEST CAPTURES

(Rec. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 31. To-night’s Soviet communique says that the Russians north-east and south-west of Nyiregyhaza captured over 50 places, including the railway station of Hajdudoiog, 13 miles south-west of Nyiregyhaza. The Russians reoccupied Nyiregyhaza, after the town had changed hands several times. The Red Army between the Tisa and the Danube captured 200 places, including Iszak, 47 miles south-south-east of Budapest. The Rusians broke into Kecskemet, where they engaged in street fighting. The Rusians between the Tisa and the Danube took prisoner 4018 Germans and Hungarians. Kecskemet is the last big town between General Malinovsky and Budapest on this approach.

GERMAN ATTACKS FAIL

(Rec. 1.15 p.m.)

LONDON, October 31. According to the “Daily Express” Moscow correspondent the Germans have launched a violent counter-at-tack to throw the Russians back across the East Prussian border, but Soviet guns massed along the 150-mile front are destroying wave after wave of German tanks. The Russians may have to withdraw in some sectors to more favourable positions, adds the correspondent, but they are successfully withstanding the German pressure at all important points. Despatches from Red Army Headquarters in East Prussia tell of battles of incredible ferocity, but full details of these battles have not been reported. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that the Soviet Command is evidently aiming at the complete liberation of the Baltic republics by November 7, the anniversary of the Communist revolution. The liberation of fhe 70 mile long German pocket on the Latvian coast, including the ports of Libau and Windau, would clear the Germans from their last foothold on Soviet soil. Moscow is still silent on the operations in this area, where Berlin, for the past few days, has reported heavy Soviet attacks.