BALTIC BATTLES

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 5

BALTIC BATTLES

CONTINUE BITTERLY Other Sectors Quieter (Rec. 12,10.) LONDON, March 20. i A Moscow correspondent stated a bitter naval) battle is being waged for a narrow strip of coast which is the Germans’ last refuge south-west of Konigsberg. The correspondents described a pocket which is under a pounding from an arc of massed Russian guns, as a smoking hell. Moscow "Red Star” said Russian bombers were guided from ground observation posts, and using a “radio eye.” They were bombing through a smoke pall, and adding to chaos and destruction inside the pocket. Every square metre on earth was under constant artillery and mortar fire. The Germans were still trying to impede a Russian advance by opening sluice gates, and flooding low-lying ground, but crack Russian guards units, striking from right, left and centre, were smashing the remaining enemy strongholds.. The German Commander, General Rendulic, issued an order calling on S.S.( officers to stand by to replace “those who faltered and proved of little worth.” A Reuter correspondent in Moscow stated: “A tremendous battle is going on for the Oder port of Stettin. Germans threw in new tank divisions in the Altdamm sector in an attempt to retain their bridgehead on the east bank of the Oder. The Red Army is still massing troops at the Rhon River, in Czechoslovakia, preparatory to launching an assault against this important German defence line, which is barring the way to the Bratislava Gap and Vienna. A Berlin radio commentator, Von Hammer, admitted Russian gains in sectors north-east and east of Lake Balaton. Germans in the past few weeks, have made a sustained effort to break through to the Danube in that area. Von Hammer said Russian infantry broke into the suburbs of Szekesfehervar to cut supply routes east of Lake Balaton. A News Agency correspondent at Moscow stated: Apart from a stubborn struggle in Breslau, there is no official Russian announcement on fighting on other fronts. Commentators here point out daily reports of enemy tank and ’plane losses indicate battles are being fought. The German News Agency reported that Russians launched an all-out offensive in Silesia between Ratibor and Kosel. “We have thrown in Grenadiers in the attempt to stem the Red Army forces which outnumber us 100 to one. The Russians in one sector hurled in more than a division tO' every mile of the front. The Ratibor-Kosel sector guards the approaches to the Bratislava gap, the entrance to Czechoslovakia. The German News Agency stated that the Red Army yesterday penetrated more than 1,000 yards into the main Stettin defence zone south-east of Altdanim. The attacks were preceded by an unprecedented artillery barrage. Tons of steel and high-ex-plosive ceaselessly rained down on our positions. We suffered heavy losses under the murderous fire, which blew positions and guns to atoms.” A Soviet communique stated: Russians south-west of Konigsberg on Monday continued the fight for destruction of the East Prussian grouping, and advancing along the Frischeshaff coast, captured 30 places. Russians in this area on Sunday captured 2,138 and 47 tanks, 236 guns and 59 locomotives. Russians in Kolberg, according to the latest information, killed 8,000, captured 6,000 enemy, and 40 tanks, 100 guns and 22 troop trains.