RUSSIAN TACTICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 15 August 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN TACTICS

ENCIRCLING EAST PRUSSIA I frontal assault deferred IMPORTANT STRONGHOLD CAPTURED (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) London, Aug. 14. Declaring the Russians are trying to encircle East Prussia rather than expose the Red Army's spearheads to the hazards of terrain which abounds in virtually*impassable swamps, lakes and forests, the British United Press Moscow correspondent says that General Zakharov’s army based on Bialystok is slashing westward aiming to by-pass the Masurian Lakes from the south. Marshal Stalin in an order of the day to-night addressed to General Zakharov announced the capture of Osoweic, which is described as an important enemy stronghold on the Biebrza river, covering the approaches to East Prussia. The correspondent adds that it is increasingly clear that the frontal assault against East Prussia has been deferred until General Chernyakhov’s right flank is cleared, after which the Red Armies now battling their way through tl'f Baltic republics will throw their weight into a straightout campaign for German territory. The German news agency commentator, von Hammer, stated that all available Russian forces have been thrown into a double westward move from Kreutsburg and Pskov, where 14 infantry divisions are attacking. APPEAL TO GERMAN PEOPLE London, Aug. 14. Moscow radio to-day broadcast an appeal to the German people from Field Marshal Paulus, - German commander captured at Stalingrad, saying: "Further continuation of the * war is useless bloodshed. Germany has lost the war.” Field Marshal Paulus urged *lhe Germans to get rid of Hitler and form a peace government.