THRUST CONTINUED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 17 August 1944, Page 5

THRUST CONTINUED

RUSSIANS 15 MILES FROM VALK STRONG COUNTER-ATTACKS ON REST OF FRONT (Rec. 11 a.m.) London. Aug. 16. Continuing their westward thrust along the Latvian-Estonian border the Russians are within 15 miles of Valk. Elsewhere they have been engaged in repelling strong coun-ter-attacks. particularly near Raseiniai, on the Kaunas-Meniel route, east of Warsaw and in the Carpathian foothills. The Red Army, however, retains the initiative and the Russians are also methodically mopping up strongpoints left by advancing spearheads all along the 1000-mile front. In the last eleven days since the counter-attacks began, the Russians have occupied 3230 places, including 1820 in the Baltic region. Rugby, Aug. 15. A special Soviet communique states: “Troops of the First Ukrainian Front in a month’s offensive which ended with i the rout of an enemy army group in the Lvov direction and the liberation of a number of large towns, killed or took prisoner 172,360 Germans. Planes totalling 687 were captured or destroyed. The enemy also lost 1941 tanks and self-propelled guns, 3615 guns of various calibres. 3868 mortars. 5735 machine-guns and 1 1,727 motor cars. Between 13th July and 12th August 140.0.10 Germans were killed on Marshal Koniev’s First Ukrainian Front in South Poland and 32.000 were taken prisoner. The Russians suffered a setback in the Warsaw area but had success farther south where they entered Sandomierz. To-night’s Soviet communique. says Russians north-west and north of Pechori captured 70 places and south-west and west of Siauiiai repelled major tank and infantry attacks. Russians east of Praga repelled poun-ter-attacks but abandoned Ossow. 7 miles east-north-east of Warsaw after fierce fighting. The Red Army north-, west of Sandomierz fought successfully for an enlargement of the bridgehead on the west bank of the Vistula and occupied several places The Russians have broken into* Sandomierz and are engaged in street fighting.