BALTIC BATTLES

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1945, Page 5

BALTIC BATTLES

enemy pockets Being Decimated ' (Rec 12.30) LONDON, March 16 1 A British United iPress correspondent in Moscow stated: On Friday battle formations of Red Red Army cavalry, motorised inianrty and tanks were storming outer defences of Konigsberg. They are lighting under five miles from south-western suburbs of the city, which are under incessant bombardment from mighty Russian siege guns ten miles away. Two more columns are wheeling westward to mount a decisive assault, and to wipe out a second remaining German pocket in East Prussia. Russian tanks and infantry on Thursday drove to Frischieshaff. This already has enlarged a wedge between isolated German groups to a width of four miles. Frontline dispatches report bitter street fighting in Kolberg, Marshal Rokossovsky’s forces betwen Kolberg and Konigsberg returning to an attack against Gdynia and Danzig after a temporary lull because of adverse weather. Fighting in five others the bridgehead is over eleven miles long and six miles deep. The infantry are fighting in good weather. German artillery fire m the entire bridgehead area has been very light, onl yfive rounds being fired on Thursday. A - United Press correspondent in Moscow said; Russians ar e lighting on the outskirts of Danzig and Gdynia, but little news of their progress has come in the past 24 hours. A Soviet communique stated: — Troops south-west of Konigsberg today reached the coast at Frescheshaff and occupied a number of inhabited localities, including one five miles south-west of Konigsberg, which, after changing hands several times, is now firmly held. By reaching the coast at Frescheshaff, the Russians cut into the East Prussia enemji grouping, and split it in two parts. They yesterday took over one thousand prisoners in this area. Troops in Kolberg continued to light for the liquidation of- the enemy group blocked in the eastern part of the town. Russians south-west of Konigsberg pressed the surrounded German forces farther ' back towards the sea, gaining some ground in bitter battles in which the Germans lost about six thousand men in killed and captured. The number captured was twice the number killed. A German News Agency reporter, Guenther Weber, stated: Ten American divisions, including some from the new U.S. Fifteenth Army have been placed at the disposal of the bridgehead front. A heavy battle is progressing for the Rhine castie of Ahfenfels north of Honningen, which the Germans have turned into a defence obstacle. The German News Agency says that the Russians have broken into the eastern parts of Kolberg, where heavy fighting is progressing. Most of the civilians have been evacuated. Reuter’s recalls that the Baltic seaport of Kolberg -was cut off when Zhukov’s troops reached the coast on both sides of the town. The trapped garrison has put up a stubborn defence. LITTLE QUARTER BEING GIVEN. (Rec. 9.10).. LONDON, March 16. Foreign journalists were taken on a conducted tour of the Eastern Front, particularly Goerlits(, Lauban and Striegan, and a German officer stated to them: “The fighting pn the Eastern Front has become extremely grim, and is almost without quarter. We scarcely take any more prisoners than we need for interrogation purposes.” The journalists testify, to stern treatment meted out to deserters or looters. Bodies of executed servicemen were left in public places for days as a warning to others. The towns and villages behind this front, unless they are within gun range, are mostly intact, because the Russians have done little, except tactical bombing. HUNGARIAN BATTLE. LONDON, March 15. A Soviet communique said: — The Germans in Western Hungary show no signs of slackening the attacks in the Lake Balaton region to reach the Danube. They are apparently: not concerned about the terrific casualties they have suffered, and are continuing the attacks. Russians in Hungary north-east and east of Lake Balaton continued to repel infantry and tank attacks. Artillery in this area destroyed fifty tanks and self-propelled guns. KONIEV STRONGLY RESISTED. (Rec. 12.50). LONDON, March 16. Especially heavy: fighting is raging along Koniev’s wide Neisse River front west of the Oder River, says Reuter’s Moscow - correspondent. The Germans are fiercely resisting the Russian advance. They a're making full Use of forest terrain, thickly sown with mines. They have flung up log 'road blocks, and prepared areas for flooding.