RUSSIANS ON WAY TO BERLIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 7 April 1945, Page 5

RUSSIANS ON WAY TO BERLIN

STRICT SECURITY SILENCE OVER FRONT

Wedge Driven into Vienna City

London, April 6. The Russians are making progress well towards Berlin against very bitter resistance, reports the British United Press correspondent in Moscow. Strict security silence covers this front. Marshal Tolbukhin has driven his first wedge into the city area of Vienna. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Red Army has reached Simmerg district in the south-eastern section of the city. They are smashing their way forward against very savage resistance in the Simmerg industrial area, in which there are electricity and gas installations serving the whole of Vienna. Other correspondents state that Vienna is enclosed on three sides.

Marshal Tolbukhin's forces are gripping Vienna in an arc from the west to the south-east. Russian heavy guns have moved up to new positions, holding the north-western road and rail exits under fire. Hand-to-hand fighting and artillery duels at point-blank range are being fought as the battle spreads over a widening area. German counter-attacks have been flung back with heavy casualties.