PSKOV ATTACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24971, 14 August 1944, Page 3

PSKOV ATTACK

NEW SOVIET DRIVE CLEARING BALTIC MAIN ARMIES MASSING NAZI DEFENCE MOVES (Reed. 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. J!i With the Russians regrouping on a terrific scale and the Germans throwing in their best troops to save East Prussia, a cleaning-up operation in the Estonian sector is reported by a Soviet communique. The Germans say the Russians have launched new attacks along the Vistula. The Russians on tlic northern front have resumed the offensive south-west and west of Pskov. They have advanced more than 15 miles 011 a 40-milo front. A Soviet communique says that Soviet forces crossed two rivers and captured 60 places, including the railway station of Lopassaare, 88 miles west of Pskov. Russian Advance Along Railways Router's correspondent in Moscow says that the Germans encircled in the Baltio trap are hurriedly switching reserves from other sectors in a desperate bid to stem the Russian break-through west of Lake Pskov, where the Red Army is advancing into Estonia with a crushing weight of tanks and guns. The Russians are widening the 40milo gap, 110 adds, and advancing along two railways, one loading to Dorpat (Tartu) and the other to Riga. The whole .Baltic front is now on the move, with the exception of the sector west of NaiH-a.

Savage fighting is still going on along the East Prussian border region, the correspondent adds. The Germans are throwing in a tank armada against an equally huge Soviet armoured force. The Russians thrusting against the southern frontier of East Prussia are breaking through the new German defence lino west and north of Bialystok, blasting paths through minefields with massed mortars. The Germans are falling back to the Biebraza River, which is 17 miles from the German frontier. Attacks Along Vistula

A Spviet communique says the Russians 011 this sector occupied 100 places, including Monke, 24 miles from the border of East Prussia. Tho Germans, fighting with their backs almost on their own frontier, includo crack S.S. and grenadier divisions recently arrived from Norway, Italy and Germany, The masses of guns and armour assembled 011 both sides, comparable with anything accumulated during the war, are grouped for a herculean effort. The Red Army has launched big new attacks on tho great Vistula bend, says the German news agency's commentator, von Olberg. Thrusts ure being made over a 16-mile front between Baranow and -Mielec. Von Olberg adds that the German lines have already been withdrawn two miles and tho situation is serious.

.Moscow, referring to this sector, says the Ked Army successfully repelled large-scale infantry and tank attacks against the Russian bridgehead on the west bank of the Vistula. The Germans lost more than 50 tanks.