RUSSIAN DRIVE

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN DRIVE

In Czechoslovakia

(.Rec. 12.57) LONDON, Nov 29 Re.uter’s Moscow correspondent gays: The Red Army is rapidly, broadening and deepening its drive through Czechoslovakia and Norm eastern Hungary. Marshal Petrov's Fourth Ukranian Army, at present is preparing for a swing across the mouth of tne vital Dukla Pass to establish a firm hold on this important gateway between Czechoslovakia and Southern Poland. The American Associated Press at Moscow states: Contact is reported to have been been established between the big bend of th e Tisa River and its tributary, Bodrog River, between Malinovsky’s forces. The co-ordinated action was apparently planned to clear the eastern approaches to Kosice. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent stated: Russian forces 'are rapidly approaching crossroads in their offensive through Eastern Czechoslovakia. Events in the next 48 hours should show whether Petrov’s forces are aiming chiefly to clear the Germans from the interior of Slovakia or a more far-reaching scheme directed against the German flank in South Poland. The Russians, if able to link up over Dukla Pass, would partially outflank the communications with Centrey and Presov from the north, and establish a good springboard for an advance either deeper into Slovakia or into industrial Silesia on the flank of the German grouping protecting Cracow 7 , which is now less than 90 miles from the scene of the fighting. It is only the phenomenally wet weather that is preventing. the swift Russian advance into the interior of Slovakia, where guerrillas are isolating and wiping out the German garrisons. Crowds of Hungarians and Germans who have already decided they prefei surrender to annihilation are plodding through the liberated villages. Local inhabitants are doing everything possible to assist the Russian advance. German units retreating frequently see the words “get out” roughly scrawled on the walls of cottages. The British United Press Moscow 7 correspondent says that torrents of water are pouring down the mountain slopes, delaying the Russians in the Tisa Valley. Villages, like islands,, are mostly linked only by high roads. Floods are forcing the Russians to advance along the high ground. Ice covers the mountain slopes and alpine troops from the Caucasus are being brought up to speed the advance. The German News Agency says that with the incorporation of Mohacs the Russian bridgehead across the Danube is now, six miles wide. Mohacs is 12 miles north of the point in Yugoslavia where they made the initial crossing.

ENEMY'S ATTACK IN EAST PRUSSIA. (Rec. 1.35.) LONDON, Nov. 29. Moscow radio reports: With tank support, enemy infantry on Tuesday attacked our East Prussian lines, but were driven back to their initial positions, after reaching our forward defences. The Berlin radio says that grand scale Russian preparations for a Winter offensive are most, marked in East Prussia, and also the Baranov bridgehead over the Vistula south of Warsaw. There is no doubt the Russians have completely co-ordin-ated the offensive plans with the British and Americans, added the radio. MASS MURDERS BY ENEMY. SOVIET ESTIMATE. MOSCOW, November 26. ’ The Soviet Atrocity Commission estimates that the Germans have murdered 77,000 prisoners.-, of war and civilians in the Estonian prison camps, in the past three years. The Commission’s report states that executions continued steadily throughout the German occupation of Estonia, but increased sharply just Jbefore the Russians arrived.