FIERCE BATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 3

FIERCE BATTLE

BUDAPEST BASTION ENEMY ATTACKS

HELD AT ALL POINTS

KIEV FIGHTING RECALLED GUO a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 7. The Germans are launching attack after attack north-west of Budapest in a reckless attempt to break through to the city, says Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow, All the reports from the front line state that these attacks, launched by tanks over roads and fields which are iron-hard under the frost, arc being held at all points. The battle inside Budapest is concentrating in the centre of the city. The Russians arc storming the strongest positions left to the enemy. Marshal Tito’s communique states that Hie Yugoslavs operating on the left flank of the Russian forces m southern Hungary have driven hack the Germans westward in the region of. Virovilicz in tiie Drava Valley. 10 miles south of the Hungarian frontier. '■eviYinn attempts to wipe out tiie Yugoslav and Russian bridgehead over (lie Drava have been defeated. . Tank, artillery and air battles as fierce as those which raged over the Ukrainian plains west of Kiev in tiie autumn of 1943 are going on in the mountain sector north-west of Budapest, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. The Germans are continuously throwing in tanks, infantry and planes in an effort to relieve the battered garrison in Budapest, who are now trying 1o fight their way out of the city. The whole sector south of the Danube bend is most fluid, with villages changing hands several times daily. Tiie Germans brought up a number of King Tiger tanks and stronger Luftwaffe forces than have been seen on the eastern front for many months went up in support of the German ground troops. Tiie fighting is still tough in Buda. where the Germans hold several important heights in tiie city, from which they are firing with good effect. The Russian push through Pest is believed to be very close to the Danube at several points. Danger From Nazis Averted Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow says the immediate threat of a German break-through to Budapes appears to have been averted.

A Red Star despatch from Budapest announced repeated German counterattacks inside the city in which the enemy suffered heavy losses. The Germans set fire to houses, seeking to protect themselves by a ring of fire. Prisoners related that terrible scenes of slaughter are occurring in the heart of the capital. The Germans are shooting and bayoneting any civilians appearing in the streets or anyone leaving the work assigned to him. A Moscow supplementary communique says the Germans on January 5 threw 3000 tanks into counterattacks north-west of Budapest, all of which were repulsed. Tiie Messerschmitt aircraft engine factory, a radio factory, and a number of other factories in Budapest have been captured by the Red Army in the past 24 hours, states a Russian communique. The Russians yesterday captured 173 blocks of buildings in the Budapest area. On Friday they took 1630 German and Hungarian prisoners, destroyed 130 German tanks, and shot down 17 planes. Strong enemy infantry ancl tank attacks north-west of Budapest were repelled.