AROUND PSKOV

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1944, Page 5

AROUND PSKOV

RED ARMY ARC Southern Push Towards Rogochev RUSSIANS CLOSE ON PSKOV [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 12.50) LONDON, Feb. 24. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: The Red Army is tightening an arc around Pskov, the gateway to Latvia, and already has pushed on from Strugi-Krasnye, a rail centre 40 miles north-east of Pskov. Russian forces also are advancing along the whole front between the railways from Luga to Pskov, and from Dno to Pskov. Heavy fighting inside Dno continued all night long. Russians effected further penetrations but the Germans are strenuously defending this strongpoint. A Soviet communique says the Russians south-west and south of Luga continued their offensive, and cap'tured over 30 inhabited places, including the large railwayi station of Strugi, 40 miles north-east of Pskov, on the Luga'4Pskov railway; also south-west of Lake Ilmen they captured over 145 inhabited places. The Red Army, overcoming enemy resistance, has closed right up to Dno and begun street fighting in.the northern and eastern outskirts of the town. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated: A vast-scale battle is shaping as the Red Army gathers its forces for renewed action on the Baltic. Three Russian armies are correlating their movements on the northern front for a concentrated drive towards the Baltic. General Meretskov’s force, fighting on the outskirts of Dno, is the central prong of the drive towards the Baltic. General Govorov, driving south from Luga, forms General Meretskov’s right flank, while General Khozin’s column thrusting on hard south-west and south of Kholm towards Skolniki, is the left flank of the broadening battering ram.

Southern Front RUSSIAN ARMIES LINKED. LONDON, Feb. 23. A Soviet communique states; Rus- I sian forces north and west of Krivoi i Rog occupied a number of inhabited places. Reuter’s Moscow & correspondent stated: Three armies have linked up in the south lor a combined assault against the Black Sea ports and Bug River defences. General Malinovsky’s victory at Krivoi Rog has removed the last obstacle to the concerted drive by the Second Third and Fourth Ukrainian Armies under Marshal Koniev and Generals Malinovsky and Tolbukhin for the Black Sea ports. Malinovsky in the central spearhead has linked up with Koniev’s force to his right; and Tolbukhin’s to his left. The Berlin radio, quoting a High Command report,’ says eight Russian divisions are attacking north-east of Rogachev. They poured into the breach made on Monday night and widened it. RUSSIANS’ SOUTHERN PROGRESS (Rec. 12.20) LONDON, Feb. 24. Paris radio says: Extremely violent battles are progressing in the Krivoi Rog area. Russian forces are smashing against German lines at one place north-east of Rogochev. RED ARMY DAY. RUGBY, Feb. 23. Mr. Churchill’s message to M. Stalin on the twenty-sixth anniversarv of the Red Army.said: “To you and all ranks this is an expression of my profound admiration for their glorious record. Inspired and guided by your leadership, and by their love of the soil of Russia, trusting their skilful Commanders, they will go forward to victory and through victory; to peace with honour.’’ The following message was sent by the British Chiefs of Staff to Mar-

shal Voroshilov: “We send to you and all the officers, men and women of the Red Army and partisan forces, our greetings, and those of all ranks of the British Army, Navy and Air Force, and our congratulations on the successes which have crowned your efforts. We send you the most sincere wishes for yet more brilliant successes, and speedy and total destruction of our common enemy.’’ The United States Vice-President and other leaders sent messages. Mr. Wallace, speaking of “the almost daily heroic efforts,’’ said: "We have seen a mighty people achieve a sacrificial singleness of purpose unique in human history.’’