RED ARMY THRUSTS

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1944, Page 5

RED ARMY THRUSTS

AT EAST PRUSSIA AND INTO ESTONIA Enemy Hopes Dashed f Aus. & N.Z. Assn.l (Rec. 11.50.) LONDON, August 15. Moscow “Red Star” says; Heavily, armed Russian troops-crossed the Biebrza River, the last natural obstacle before the East Prussian border, north-east of Goniadz. A dense mass of Russian troops is pouring througn the shattered Biebrza line towaras the border south-east of Lyck under cover of huge air concentrations. Reuter’s military ’ correspondent states: “The crossing of the Biebrza River is a smashing blow at German hopes of holding the Russians on tne East Prussian frontier. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports: Russian mobile forces are racing to cut a German lifeline in tne Baltic trap by a thrust to the railway, to Tallinn, between Tartu and ValK, They were last reported within fourteen miles of the line. Two columns are pushing on Valk. One is going along a railway from Pskov. The other is going through marshes and low-lying ground below this line.

East Russian Front RUSSIAN GAINS NORTH-WEST OF BIALYSTOK. LONDON, August 14. M. Stalin, on Monday night in an order addressed to General Zakharov, announced the capture of Osowiec, described as an important enemy stronghold on the Biebrza River, covering approaches to East Prussia. Evacuation of Osowiec was admitted by the German News Agency, which stated the line was taken bacK several miles from Osowiec.

An Exchange Telegraph Agency Moscow correspondent says: The capture of Osowiec followed a v/eek-long struggle. The Luftwaffe was unable to interfere effectively with Russian movements. Soviet bombers are keeping up an incessant pounding of German communications and Stormoviks are strafing reserves as they move to the front. German motor traffic has been brought to a standstill at many points on the Gerran side of the border. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: “Will o’ the wisp warfare in the marshes south-east of East Prussia near the border town of Lyck is now spreading into large- scale warfare along the Biebrza River. Both sides are throwing large forces into this action, which confronts the Germans with a third battleground on the fringes of East Prussian territory. The Biebrza River is ajnavig.able waterway, and linked with the Niemen River by the Augustow Canal, and is a key defence feature on the south-east of East Prussia. Russians are concentrating heaviest attacks along a road and railway from Bialystok to Lyck. Zakharov’s forces are establishing first gun positions 'on the Biebrza River. A British United Press correspondent at Moscow states: The Russians are trying to encircle East Prussia rather than expose the Red Army's spearheads to the hazards of the terrain which abounds in virtually impassable swamps, lakes and forests. Zakharov’s army base from Bialystok is slashing westwards. It is aiming to bypass the Masurian Lakes on the south. Russian frontal assault against East Prussia has been deferred until Chernyakhov’s right flank is cleared. Red Armies are now battling their way through the Baltic Republics. They then will throw their weight into a straight-out campaign for German territory.

The German News Agency commentator, Von Hammer, stated: AU available Russian forces have been thrown into a double westward move from Kreutsburg and Pskov, where 14 infantry divisions are attacking. A Soviet communique says: Russians west and south-west of Pskov cantured Antslu, 67 miles west ot Pskov, and 100 other places. Russians in the Rossieni area of Lithuania repelled strong tank and infantry coun-ter-attacks. The German Overseas News Agency stated that a.major battle is slowly gathering momentum on the Eastern Front and will soon lead to the greatest trial of strength. Fighting on all the main sectors has increased m intensity in the past, 24 hours. The offensive against East Prussia has started in earnest,, if appearances do not deceive us. Fighting in the Bialystok area has become a grand scale battle, mainly between armoured forces, but the Russians, pressure will undoubtedly be steppea up in the next few days. The weeks will bring a trial of strength in lana warfare not thus far seen. RIVER VISTULA SECTOR. LONDON, August 14. A Soviet communique says: Russians north-west and west of Sandomierz repelled counter-attacks on the left bank of the Vistula. Another report said: Rokossovsky's troops are moving north of Warsaw in an effort to turn the left flank of the German forces defending the capital. There are indications that tne strain of keeping up counter-attacks on the main sector between Warsaw and the East Prussian border is telling on the Wehrmacht's ability to maintain a flow of reserves. The German News Agency s commentator, Von Hammer, stated ‘•here was a Russian bridgehead across Ax® Vistula north of Warsaw. Neuter points out this would mean a seriou outflanking and possible encirclement of Warsaw. Von Hammer said .tne enemy from a Vistula bridgehead north of Warsaw threw m massed tanks and forces m the effort to xvid en the breach. Bitter fighting de\ei oped.”