RUSSIANS PUSH ON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 16 August 1944, Page 5

RUSSIANS PUSH ON

DRIVE TO EAST PRUSSIA LAST NATURAL OBSTACLE PASSED BLOW AT GERMAN HOPES London, August 15. The “Red Star” says heavilyarmed Russian troops crossed the Biebrza River, the last natural obstacle before the East Prussian border north-east of Goniadz. A dense mass of Russian troops is pouring through the shattered Biebrza line towards the border south-east of Lyck under cover of huge air concentrations. Reuter’s military correspondent states that the crossing of the Bfebzra river is a smashing blow at German hopes of holding the Russians on the East Prussian frontier. Russian mobile units are racing to cut the German lifeline in the Baltic trap by a thrust to the Tallinn railway between Tartu and Vaik, reports Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. They were last reported within 14 miles of the lino. Two columns arc pushing on to Valk. one along the railway from Pskov and the other through marshes and low-lying ground below this line. BRIDGE OVER VISTULA A Moscow message says Russian engineers have built a bridge hHlf a kilometre long across the Vistula over which they are rushing supplied into the bridgehead, which is being steadily enlarged.

Pari of the Black Sea Fleet, Including submarines and smaller combat vessels, have been transferred to the Gulf of Finland and Lake Peipus to help cripple Oerman water communication*. They were sent by an ancient inland waterway, the Marinskaya System, founded by Peter the Great. Russian* west of Pochorl have captured 80 places, including the railway station of Anne, 14 miles east of Valk, says to-night’s Soviet communique. Russians in the urea of Raseiniai repelled heavy tank and infantry attacks, inflicting heavy Josses in manpower and equipment. The Red Army east of Praga suburb of Warsaw repelled large-scale tank and infantry attacks. Russians north-wost of Sandomirez fought for the extension of the bridgehead on the west bank of the Vistula and west of Sanok repelled tank and infantry attacks. FIGHTING IN WARSAW A communique on fighting in Warsaw, issued by the Underground Commander General Bors, says: “The Germans continue to heavily attack Stare Miaslo (the old town) and are sparing no ef-»-fort to eliminate it from the fighting zone. We have destroyed nine enemy tanks in the old town in the last two days. In the west end we have kept up offensive activity with the objective of cutting the enemy’g lines of communications from the east to the west and an enemy counter-attack was repelled. We took prisoners and booty. Enemy artillery is shelling the city without pause/’ A concentrated German —attack on the old town is explained by the fact that as long as Poles hold this area, a vital artery running from Kierbiedy Bridge is threatened.