SLOWER TEMPO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21549, 31 October 1944, Page 3

SLOWER TEMPO

EAST PRUSSIA SEVERE NAZE COUNTERS REINFORCED DEFENCES LONDON, Oct. 29. The Russian offensive in East Prussia has been temporarily slowed as a result of severe German counter-attacks and the bewildering profusion of defence works, states Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. The Germans have stiffened their defences with steel and concrete and ringed them to varying depths with mines. The Russians are also meeting more intense artillery fire as the Germans draw heavily on the reserves of big guns and vast stores of ammunition. The Red Army in East Prussia is reported to De meeting German soldiers armed as well as any. troops encountered during the war. The Russians found concrete wells among novel features of the East Prussian defences. The Germans shelter in these wells and allow the Russian tanks to roll on. The Russians are countering these tactics with showers of mortar bombs before each tank attack.

The Red Army in the Far North is apparently beginning a full-scale winter arive planned to free the whole of northern Norway. The German News Agency commentators, Plato and von Hammer, to-night each mentioned the fierce Red Army offensive south-east of Libau. Plato said: "The Russians succeeded in penetrating the German lines; captured Auts, and broke into the German position before Kuln. German anti-aircraft guns used as anti-tank guns eventually checked the Russians.” Von Hammer said: "The Russians in Latvia have thrown in from 35 to 40 infantry divisions and seven armoured corps. A great tank battle has Hared up at Auts following the arrival of German tactical reserves.”

On Czechoslovak territory south of Uzhorod, the Russians, in stubborn fighting, to-day captured the town and large railway junction of Cop, says to-night's Russian communique. The Russians in Hungary west of Satumara captured in orrensive fighting Nyirkarasz and Pahos, respectively 20 and 23 miles north-west and north-east of Nyiregyhaza, also Kalossemjen and Kantorjanosi, respectively 18 and 10 miles south-east and east of Nyiregyhaza, also the railway station of Mariapoc, 14 miles southeast of Nyiregyhaza. There were reconnaissance activities and local fighting at a number of points in otner sectors of the front.