BALTIC OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 5

BALTIC OFFENSIVE

GERMAN AGENCY REPORT 40 RUSSIAN DIVISIONS (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 17 The German news agency reports that 40 Russian divisions on Thursday launched a new offensive on the Baltic front. The main points of the attack were Madona, 75 miles east of Riga, and Bauska and Valk, in Estonia. More details of the big new Soviet offensive on the Baltic front are given by the news agency, according to a later message, although Moscow is silent on operations in this sector. The news agency says the Russians launched a sudden powerful offensive, part _ of which was a pincer movement against Riga and the mouth of the Dvina. The Russians on one sector of only 20 miles used 18 infantry divisions, as well as several armoured brigades, and succeeded in making a number of wedges in the German lines. POPE AND POLES LONDON, Sept. 15 The Pope, addressing over 1000 Polish soldiers in Rome, said: "Your hearts are bleeding. Words die on our lips as we think of the ruins of your heroic Warsaw. We will continue to do for Poland everything in our power. We will not cease to raise our voice amidst the rumble of war, to inspire on one side feelings of humanity and on the other side thoughts for justice and respect for your rights.". GENERAL CAPTURED (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16 Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front, combing out forests west of Bacau, Rumania, took prisoner General Buschenhagen, commander of the 52nd German Army Corps. BANK ACCOUNTS BLOCKED (Reed. G. 30 p.m.) LONDON, S.ept.. 16 The Bulgarian Government has blocked all bank accounts following the discovery that fortunes were made illegallv under the Axis regime, says the Exchange Telegraph Company's correspondent in Istanbul. Illegal fortunes will bo confiscated. SHELLING OF DOVER ORDEAL FOR SOUTH COAST LONDON, Sept. 10 With only two short breaks German long-range guns shelled the Dover area for 17 hours to 8 a.m. yesterday. The enemy batteries fired from emplacements in the Calais, Cap Gris Nez and Boulogne! localities. Shells have fallen over a wide area. The Daily Mail correspondent says the south coast of Britain is undergoing its last and worst ordeal of the war. Shells have fallen in this area, sometimes singly, sometimes in 6alyoes. day and night for a week. The noise of battle across the 21 short miles of water where the Allies are clearing the French coast has made sleep impossible.;