ON TO WARSAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24970, 12 August 1944, Page 7

ON TO WARSAW

NEW SOVIET DRIVE FIGHT INSIDE CITY POLES YIELD GROUND ASSISTANCE EXPECTED (Reed. G.lO p.m.) LONDON. Aug. II The Russians in the plains below East Prussia have stormed their way from Bialystok across the River Xarew to start a new drive toward War saw. In three days' lighting they killed more, than 4000 Germans and advanced nearly ten miles. Inside Warsaw the Poles have been forced to yield some ground. A communique from the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Underground Army. General Bors, says that the patriots were forced to yield a theatre in the centre of the city and withdraw to a western suburb. German planes have dropped leaflets containing an ultimatum and calling on the inhabitants to leave Warsaw. Reports by Germans The Berlin radio says the Russian troops which have crossed the Vistula are only 25 miles south-east of Warsaw, the nearest crossing to the city yet reported. The German news agency commentator von Hammer reports a large-scale Russian attack in the sector north-east of Cracow. .Renter's correspondent in Moscow says the Russians continue to widen the bridgehead over the Vistula and are driving the Germans back over the roads to Cracow and Siedlce. Frontline despatches state that, German attempts to cut off the bridgehead proved a costly failure. Fresh Soviet, forces are crossing the river day and night in camouflaged ferries. " The Moscow radio says the Germans are even combing the Carpathians to supply reinforcements in a desperate attempt to deny the Russians' bridgehead on the left bank of the Vistula, but the bridgeheads already gained are substantially and firmly held. Efforts to Delay Russians The British United Press correspondent in Moscow says Hitler is throwing in strategic reserves in continued counter-attacks along the Vistula in what may prove a last desperate attempt to delay the Russian offensive. There is no doubt about the German intention to fight on as long as they can, the correspondent adds. Prisoners from one division told the Russians that they had been rushed from German territory to the Vistula in 24 hours and thrown " into battle immediately they arrived. M. Kwapinski, deputy-Prime Minister of Poland, stated that help was being sent to the underground army. "1 have an indication that help will be given in sufficient quantities to be effective," he added. M. Kwapinski said he was closely co-operating with General Bors in handling the situation arising from the fighting inside Warsaw.