SOVIET ATTACKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21548, 30 October 1944, Page 3

SOVIET ATTACKS

EAST PRUSSIA INSTERBURG AREA BATTLE GROWS FIERCER (9 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 29. The Russians are intensifying their blows against Insterburg' in freezing weather, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. The Red Air Force is taking advantage of the clearer weather to strike massive blows against concentrations of German troops and materials. The climax to the struggle for Insterburg has not yet been sighted. The Russian push west from Augustow, which has been overshadowed by the battle for Insterburg and Gumbinnen, is making good progress. Front-line dispatches stress the tremendous power of the Russian antitank defences. The German armoured divisions in East Prussia are reported to be more heavily equipped with anti-tank devices than any others so far encountered. The German News Agency commentator, Major von Hammer, says the Russians have opened a new offensive south-east and east of Libau. The Soviet Arctic Navy and Air Aian arc complete masters of their sea routes ana have destroyed in the past 10 days alone 50 enemy ships, states the Pravda, which acids: "Gone for ever are the days of massed attacks by enemy planes and submarines on convoys from Britain and America.” ..

me Russians, after the capture ot Uzhorod, have reached the outskirts of Cop, on the Czech-Hungarian frontier, says the British United Press correspondent in Moscow. A big battle is looming for this key railway junction. Cop is strongly defended, the Germans naving erected tortiiications and blown up all tne bridges a,w roaus leading to the town. They have also reinforced their units mauled in the retreat from Czechoslovakia m preparation for a last attempt to hold the Bed Army at Hungary's

frontier. Although neither side in the last 1noui's has referred to lighting at any specific point in East Prussia, reports Hum tiie front show tiiat the German fumy, assisted by the Vokssturm, is malting its strongest bid to hold back the Russians. Nazis Mass at Taimenberg The battle oi East Prussia is reaching its decisive phase, states Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. General Bagramyan and Marshal Zakharov iiam massed two fresh Russian army groups on the East Prussian border norm and south of the present Russian invasion force. These new armies are reported to be' poised reauy for new blows against Germany’s north-east bastion. The Russians say the Germans, despite the ferocity of the present struggle for Insterburg, are also holding large reserves to meet new threats. rne Germans are massing on the scene of Tannenberg, the historic battlefield, where they are strengthening the last war’s fortified zones. The Germans farther north are fighting along the railway leading to Aoemgsberg and are grimly trying to prevent the Russians by-passing the fortifications. Massed forces oi German tanks to-day launched attack a tier attack against the Red Army on all ihe East Prussian sectors. Concentrations oi Russian heavy artii.e. switched their fire against the depths ol the East Prussian defences, threatening vital fortified sectors wim demolition. The British United Press’ correspondent in Moscow says that terrific cannonade continues day and night along the whole East Prussian front. Russian tanks and guns are moving forward to ihe attack through breaches in the German fortifications. Thousands of German corpses litter the roads. The Russians are now building landing strips immediately behind the fighting line for the night bomber squadrons which are being sent forward in great strength m dica.ting that the Russians are preparing for another big drive forward.