GERMAN ATTACKS

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1944, Page 5

GERMAN ATTACKS

ALONG CARPATHIANS Repulsed by Russians [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 9.50) LONDON, May 2. A Soviet communique says: Soviet forces on Monday repelled enemy attacks south-east of. Stanislawow which lasted all dav long. Two enemy a.ttacks north of Jassy were also repelled. The enemy in both areas suffered heavy casualties in men and equipment. A Moscow communique again reports no material changes along the front. A Soviet air communique says: Our long-range planes last night mass raided the railway junction of Brest Litovsk and started seventeen fires, four of which were particularly large. They hit troop trains a'nd supply trains, and explosions were seen in the target area. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: There are signs of an early resumption of. big-scale fighting on the Central Russian front where the Red Air Force bombers and Stormoviks are at present softening up the German communications and airfields Russians at the northern end of this sector between Vitebsk and Polatsk are getting ready to move . on the railway stronghold of Idritsa, north-west of Neval on the direct route to the Baltic Republics. General Rokossovsky at the southern end is in position to move against Beresina, developing the thrust toward Minsk. The southern front is also stirring with local battles in several sectors. The Russians at any moment, are expected to drive into Chechoslovakia. Indeed the Czech deputy, Rudolph Slansky, told the “Red Star” to-da v the final stage of the liberation of Czechoslovakia had already begun. Red Army instruction films, based on the fighting in New Guinea, were shown to Soviet troops before the recent Crimean offensive began. Russian soldiers have adopted the Australian-American junele tactics to prise the Germans from the craggy mountains, caves and foxholes outside Sebastopol. As the Russian High Command anticipated, the Germans used the Japanese methods of defence around Sebastopol and the Russians are digging out the Germans one by one from the mountain crannies around the port. Baltic Bishop Killed HEAD OF ORTHODOX CHURCH. LAus. & N.Z. Press Ai.sn 1 LONDON, May 1. Metropolitan S'ergis,'head of the Baltic States Orthodox Church, was killed at the week-end, says “The Times’s” Stockholm correspondent. The German version says that Sergis was the victim of anti-German partisans, operating between Kovno and Vilna, but no details are given. The correspondent adds that Sergis’s position during the German occupation was difficult, but after the Germans resorted to conciliatory methods for the purpose .of. mobilising the Baltic States for “voluntary” active co-operation against the- advancing Russians, he was coaxed into ap, pealing to his flock to join the national military units for the defence of the homeland under German guidance. TURKISH BLACKOUT, AT ISTANBUL. [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 9.50) ISTANBUL, May 2. Because of the repeated appearance of unidentified planes over the city, the Governor of Istanbul has ordered a partial blackout, and also extensive air raid precautions, as from Tuesday. ' May Day MOSCOW CELEBRATION. LONDON, May 1. A thunderous May Day salute from Moscow guns was broadcast to the world bv the Moscow radio, which thus described the scenes. “The flags and bunting, with which public and private buildings are profusely decorated, are fluttering in the sunshine. The bright spring dresses of the women lend an,added splash of colour. Instead of the usual reports of industrial and farming achievements and other normal features, the Moscow radio broadcast Russia’s most famous musicians, singers, poets and actors in a programme,in which the war was not mentioned.

LONDON MEETING LONDON', April 30. Trafalgar Square was crowded this afternoon for May Day celebrations. Flags of the United Nations, also Fighting France and other countries fighting against the Nazis, formed the background to the speakers. Allied servicemen and women of many languages mingled in the vast audience of workers. A message from Mr Lawther, President of the Mineworkers’ Federation, said the miners, despite differences between themselves the coal owners and the Government, wholeheartedly supported the war eftor t. It hoped .the bonds which tied them with the Soviet miners would be further strengthened in the near future by a joint agreement. We hope in a few days to meet them in a bond that nothing will break asunder. The audience carried a resolution sending London’s greeting to all peoples united in the struggle against Fascism, also assuring the Indian and Colonial people of full support, and pledging the maximum production of a hundred per cent, by trade unionism in the war effort. M. Stalin in a May Day message, reviewed the progress of the Red Army, and said that Britain and the United States had made a considerable contribution to those successes. In Italy, British arid American troops were diverting large forces of the enemy from the eastern front. Britain and the United States were supplying Russia with much valuable war material and armaments and were undermining the enemy resistance by systematic boml: ’’, np r>,. Germany. M. Stalin warned Rumania, Hungary, Finland and Bulgaria their only chance of escaping was to break with Germany and withdraw from the war. Discussing the tasks ahead. M. Stalin said it was riot enough to drive the Germans off Russian territory. The German army was a wounded animal retiring its lair. It would be necessaiy to nursue it to its lair and finish it off. This would be done by the Bass armies combining-with the aim.es o Russia’s Allies in the West.

AN ITALIAN MANIFESTO. 'RUGBY, April 30. To avoid hampering the war effoit. fhp first Mav Dav since the, fall ol Mussoliil was meeahes CU .wors bieM at Naples and The Liberal and Common st Parties issued a combined manifesto declaring them three mam iims to be the defeat of the German invader, final overthrow of the Fascist regime, and improvement in living conditions in the country.