GRIM DEATH-TRAP

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21385, 21 April 1944, Page 3

GRIM DEATH-TRAP

CARPATHIAN BATTLE NAZI TROOPS REPULSED LONDON, April 19. In flames and ruins, Sebastopol is now a grim death-trap sealed oft’ by sea, land and air, and the end in the Crimea is in signt, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The Russians, breaking their way tnrougn precipitous rocks, have reached tne aqueduct south of the city, thus completing an aie around its landward sides and cringing the whole port under guniire. Hundreds oi' Germans and Rumanians, after being driven to the ectge of the Crimea near Senastopol,' were forced into the sea from the high cliffs. Russian land batteries, warships and Stormviks have virtually sealed the sea exit. The last enemy plane has been effectively grounded. The city is now shaken by explosives and overhung with clouds of dust ana smoke. The streets are jammed with oattle-weary troops from all parts ol the peninsula. Righting is going on cor the last fortified positions outside ■Sebastopol, where the Germans are throwing in their remaining tanks. Tne Russians, who fought through from the south, had a bitter slugging struggle over ground every yard ot which holds memories of Field-Mar-shal von lVlannstein’s seige in 1942. ‘ The Moscow* correspondent of the British United Press says that before msing Balaclava the Germans massed their equipment' at beaches where power barges were waiting to take them off. Russian planes, submarines and surface craft circled the beaches and completely destroyed the embarkation fleet, killing thousands of Germans and reducing their equipment to a mass of twisted iron. The Germans within Sebastopol lack the principal advantage the Russians possessed during their 15U days siege—long-range guns embedded in massive concrete loundations, which the Red Army destroyed before leaving the fortress and which the Germans were unable to replace. New Storm Breaking The Berlin radio's commentator, Hallensieben, said a new storm may soon break in a diflerent part of the eastern front. Both sides are obviously regrouping their forces. The capture of Nadownra between the Carpathians and Stanislawow, claimed in a Berlin communique today, indicates that the German High Command has thrown considerable forces into action before the Carpathians. The Germans are simultaneously moving against Tarnopol, where some units have already reached the outskirts of the town, added Hallensieben. German reconnaissance observed a Russian concentration obviously preparing to attempt to break tnrough the northern flank of the southern front. Reuter says the Germans in coun-ter-attacks east of Stanislawow are evidently taking Field-Marshal von Mannstein’s usual pattern—a bid to strike through from the flank and cut off the Russian spearheads. Von Manristein seems prepared to sacrifice tanks and infantry on a considerable scale. Plight of Odessa The Mayor of Odessa stated that 25 per cent, of the buildings were blasteci m the city. Only 280,000 of a total population of 737,000 remain. More chan half the population were evacuated to Central Asia. The rest were killed or driven off by the Germans and the Rumanians. To-nights Soviet communique says: “The Russians east and south of Stanislawow were engaged in a fierce battle, repelling attacks by large forces of enemy infantry and tanks. The Russians in the Kishinev sector continued fighting for the widening of the bridgeheads on the right bank ot the Dniester and unproved their posi“The Russians in Uie Sebastopol sector continued their offensive and expelled the enemy from several neavily fortified strong-points. "Russian long-range aircraft last night raided the railway junction or Lwow and bombed concentrations oi trains. About 40 fires were started, accompanied by violent explosions. Trains with ammunition and troops, also' oil-tanker cars were left burning.”