BUDAPEST DRIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25054, 18 November 1944, Page 7

BUDAPEST DRIVE

RUSSIANS IN SUBURBS BATTLE NEARS CLIMAX HUNGARIAN INSERTIONS (Recti. 12.15 a.m.) LONDON. Nov. 17 The Red Army is already in the southern suburbs of Budapest, according to the Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press. Disorder is spreading among Hungarians and Germans as the battle for Budapest approaches a climax. Many Hungarians are deserting their German allies. The Russians are encountering fewer German tanks in the fighting north-east and east of the city, but the Germans are believed to be relying on the fortifications in front of Budapest for a last-ditch stand. Four Stations Captured

The German overseas news agency said: "Throwing more and more infantry, cavalry and tanks into the battle, the Bolsheviks are relentlessly continuing their drive against Budapest. There are heavy rain, snow and blizzards in Hungary, but the storming of the German buffer lines protecting the capital from the east continues. The arrival of large numbers of Bolshevik reinforcements has been observed in the Hungarian battle area." A Soviet communique states that the Red Army captured the town and railway station of Jaszarokszallas, north of Jaszbereny, and 30 other places, including four railway stations. Renter's Moscow correspondent says that Soviet storm battalions are pouring toward the city's eastern outskirts and the position of Hungarians and Germans in the capital is again critical. Another Soviet armoured spearhead is thrusting out to sever Budapest's last communication line to the north-east. The Germans are rushing more reinforcements to Budapest. One fresh division which arrived on Tuesday is already being thinned out by Soviet artillery fire. Hungarian Factories Stripped As the Red Army bends back the enemy line in front of the capital there are increasing signs of Hungarian desertions to the Russians. Hungarian officers and men, in the latest batch of deserters, told the Russians that the Germans were stripping Hungarian factories and evacuating the country's industrial equipment to Germany. Political events in Hungary in the next few days may well prove more important than military developments on the battlefields, states the Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent. Reports trickling in from Hungary suggest that relations between Hungary and Germany are reaching breaking point. The Hungarian people, especially the soldiers, are becoming more and more hostile to their present rulers and the possibility of a popular rising to overthrow pro-Nazi collaborators is growing stronger. HUNGER AND COLD JUGOSLAVIA'S TRIALS TITO WANTS FOOD SUPPLIES LONDON, Nov. 16 "The most presshig problem in liberated Yugoslavia is food supplies, as railways and bridges have been wrecked and rolling-stock taken away by Germans, Hungarians and others," said Marshal Tito, leader of the Yugoslav Partisans, in au interview with Renter's correspondent in Belgrade. "Britain and America could give immediate, help by sending food and clothing by sea to areas where the population is dying of hunger and cold." Marshal Tito proceeded. "It is now easy to do this as almost the whole of Dalmatia is liberated and some good ports are available for discharging ships. Thanks to the Soviet Government and the Red Army it has been possible to bring 40,000.t0ns of wheat from Russia to Yugoslavia. .The fuel supply is also difficult. The Red Army has lent several hundred lorries. "Obviously Ave still need war materia], for instance, motor-cars and lorries, which we asked the Allies to send under lend-lease. 1 must say L am rather surprised that we have not yet succeeded in getting those things from the Allies." Discussing political matters, Marshal Tito said: "We do not want to broach the question of frontiers officially until the war has ended, but the world knows which territories we insist should be united with their motherland." Marshal Tito said lie was convinced that the recently formed People's Party, consisting of members of various former parties and the Communist Party, would get at least SO per cent of votes at the next elections. He was satisfied with the way the war was developing in Yugoslavia. "it is a mistake to think that the Germans will leave of their own accord," he added. "Largo German forces from Greece and Albania have retreated to Yugoslav territories and now the Liberation Army, with units of the Red Army and help from units of the Bulgarian Army, is pursuing and destroying the Hitlerite hordes." CAMPAIGN IN ITALY (Herd. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17 United Kingdom and Indian troops of the Eighth Army have captured an important road junction nine miles south-west of Faenza, and at one point our men are only four miles from Faenza itself. On the coastal plains the Germans have flooded a large area south of Ravena, making movement extremely difficult, AEGEAN ISLAND RAIDED LONDON, Nov. 16 The island of Melos, in the Aegean, which is still in German hands, was raided on Tuesdav by a small Allied commando force. The Royal Navy supported tlie landing. Our men were later withdrawn, together with some German prisoners they had taken.