East Prussia Ablaze; Edge Near Warsaw

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1944, Page 3

East Prussia Ablaze; Edge Near Warsaw

(Rec. Noon) LONDON, Aug 20.

“Have no doubts about it. The Red Army will cross the East Prussian frontier at any moment now. This is the war’s conclusive phase,” said Moscow radio this evening, in a broadcast to the German army and German people. The British United Press Moscow correspondent states that East Prussia is ablaze. Red air force pilots returning from strafing attacks, report smoke from a dozen burning towns is rolling low over the countryside. Marshal Rokossovsky’s armour, despite repeated Panzer attacks is edging closer to Warsaw and the suburb of Praga, but the correspondent expresses the opinion that it may be Marshal Koniev’s army at present advancing northwards from the Vistula bridgehead at Sandomierz, which is intended to mount the main assault against Warsaw, most of which lies on the west bank of the Vistula. Marshal Koniev, at the moment is held up because of participation in the liquidation of three encircled German divisions north *of Sandomierz. The correspondent adds that Marshal Koniev’s movement from ? the north, which is approaching Lomza, may force the Germans to abandon Warsaw under threat of encirclement and win the Polish capital for the Russians without a frontal assault. Destroying WarsawGerman forces have withdrawn in face of heavy Russian pressure. Warsaw is being systematically and viciously ‘ destroyed, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Associated Press, quoting reports from travellers. The Germans, after a counter-attack have retaken the city’s electricity works. They used Stukas against points where Polish patriots were resisting particularly stubbornly. Traffic in Warsaw is in a state of chaos and the city is a ghastly picture of destruction.

The Rome correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph says that air crews returning from Warsaw where they dropped supplies for patriots, said that the city appeared to be in flames. The leader of the Underground Army (General Bors), in a communique from within Warsaw, reveals that the patriots force consists of one woman to every seven men. Women conduct dressing stations and field kitchens and act as despatch riders. Horror in Capital

The underground army’s communique from within Warsaw says: “Since the early hours of 'Saturday the old city quarter has been, subjected to extremely heavy artillery and mortar fire. German bombers continue to create havoc. Of thousands of houses in the district, only a few were left standing, and the number of people injured is extremely high.” Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports titanic tank battles are boiling up in northern Lithuania as the German High Command pounds in more panzers and mobile guns in an attempt to smash a way through the Russian corridor and rescue the trapped German Baltic army. It is a war of attrition, but is being carried on at such tempo near Siauliai that it seems impossible that the enemy can keep it up much longer.

The German News Agency commentator (von Hammer) said the Russians north-east of Warsaw attacked German lines over a broad front, and, after exceptionally bitter fighting which is costly to both sides, succeeded in making a deep penetration. The Russians yesterday on both sides of Jassy began the expected major offensive. The Russians achieved a penetration one and a half miles in depth.

Surging Forward Two Soviet armies under Marshal Koniev and Marshal Rokossovsky surged forward in co-ordinated attacks against a 100-mile sector stretching from Warsaw to the Lyso Mountains, guarding German Silesia, says the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. The war in the east neared important new developments as the Wehrmacht, after losing nearly 750 tanks in four days of counter-attacks, is faced with a serious Red Army challenge for a decisive victory in Poland. The new drive struck at .the moment when General Chernyakhov’s assault was battering the enemy forces on the border of East Prussia. Marshal Koniev, after encircling three German divisions north of Sandomierz, sent armoured columns up the west bank of the Vistula in the rear of the enemy defences, while other units advanced due west. The Moscow correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph says one of the largest air battles ol’ the war is being fought out over East Prussia. Hundreds of Russian and German pianos engaged in violent dogfights all day, while equally large numbers of tanks are concentrated in readiness for a final showdown before tin* Russians enter German territory in force. On Baltic Front A Moscow communique says the Germans south-east of Tartu, despite stubborn resistance on a prepared defence line, are losing one position after another, including Alukste, an important communication centre on the Dvina River, north of Krustpils. The Germans lost 1500 men in fierce battles west of Siauliai. The Russians repelled large infantry and tank attacks and inflicted heavy losses west, north and south-west of Siauliai and south-west and west of Bialystok and captured more than SO places including Koiomya. Iland-to-hand righting occurred at Praga, where the Russians captured advantageous positions and repelled tank and infantry attacks. The Russians north of Sandomierz continued to battle for annihilation of an encircled enemy group. Our troops simultaneously repelled attacks from infantry and tanks who were trying to break through to those encircled. ,Stalin, in an order of the day addressed to the Red Air Force on the anniversary of its formation, said: “You have complete aerial mastery over the enemy.” The order announced a number of promotions and decorations, also a salute of 20 salvoes of 224 guns in honour of the air force. Bombs In Suitcases The bitterness of the battles being fought out on the northern sectors of the Russian front is described in Moscow messages. Marshal Koniev's breakthrough following the liberation of Sandomierz has brought Soviet armour to within less than 50 miles south of Warsaw, and is threatening the right flank of the Germans there, whose all-out counter-attacks arc losing their initial force, and allowing the Russians to seize the initiative at a number of points. Tire advance continues to meet very fierce resistance. In an effort to disrupt Soviet crossings’ of the Vistula under cover of smokescreens, hedge-hopping German planes are dropping “valises with fragmentation mines.” The Russians have nick-named them “Potatoes.” Heavy German Losses Meanwhile Panzer formations which yesterday dented the Soviet lines in the Sauliai area are increasing the pressure despite loss of more than 130 tanks in a single day, but there is every indication that the Red Army has the situation in hand. The fate of German divisions trapped in the Baltic pocket depends largely on the outcome of the battle for the two key junctions of Tartu and Valga, on the Tallinn-Riga railway. ■ Especially significant at present is the fighting in the direction of Tartu. Russian success in this Estonian region will enable General Govorov’s Leningrad army to renew the march into Estonia in the direction of Tallinn to join Generals Maslennikov and Yeremenko in a final battle for the extermination of 25 to 30 German divisions under von Schemer. Sandomierz Liquidated Liquidation of three German divisions encircled in Sandomierz area is announced in tonight’s Soviet communique. It says that the Russians east and south of Tartu, fought their way into 150 places, including Kuuste, seven miles south ot Tartu. The Red Army east of Riga continued the successful offensive and captured 70 places. The Russians north-west and west of Jelgava, engaged in repelling large scale

tank and infantry attacks. The Russiar after stubborn fighting, evacuated sev ral inhabited points. The Russians west of Siauliai, repetl major infantry and tank attacks, inflit ing heavy losses. The Red Army north-east and east Praga, after repelling attacks, passed the counter attack and improved 1h positions by the capture of several plat! The Russians north of Sandomie completed liquidation of three encire German divisions. In view of the enei refusal to surrender, the majority •:) German troops were annihilated. %