GAINS BY SOVIET

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25083, 22 December 1944, Page 5

GAINS BY SOVIET

SLOVAK FRONTIER GERMANS IN RETREAT INVESTMENT OE KOSICE (Kecd. 6..10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 21 The .Russians in the third day of their advance north from Hungary to Czechoslovakia yesterday captured several more places. Troops on the left wing cleared another stretch of railway beyond the frontier, talcing two stations, one of which was a heavily-fortified strongpoint. The Moscow correspondent of the Times says the Germans are fighting rearguard actions as they retreat in Southern Slovakia. The Red Army is overrunning defensive positions and taking big hauls of prisoners. The Germans have created strong positions along the .stretch of about 12 miles of wooded hills east of Kosice. Ihe main highway to Uzhorod traverses these hills. The Moscow radio says that in the .past two days the Germans have launched no fewer than 60 counter-at-tacks, mostly against the other Russian army thrusting into Czechoslovakia from the east. The Russians have now invested Kosice from three sides. This is the most important town in Eastern Slovakia and was the former headquarters of the Czechoslovak Third Army group. _lt contains extensive railway marshalling yards. The Associated Press correspondent in Moscow reports that advanced elements of the Red Army are within easy artillery range of Kosice. The Luftwaffe is evacuating Kosice airfield and mining vital installations ready to blow them up. Russian pincers are today closing on the remaining German pocket in Northeast Hungary, while battles raged across Czechoslovakia oil an everwidening front, says Renter's Moscow correspondent. German units, some of which have been retreating for months, are breaking up under the strain of incessant marching and fighting and poundings from Russian bombers. YUGOSLAV POLITICS CRISIS OVER REGENCY COUNTRY SHORT OF FOOD LONDON, Dec. V.) Diplomatic observers expect a crisis over the establishment of a Rege'ucy Council in Yugoslavia. This was one of the bases of agreement between the Prime Minister. Dr Subasic, and the Partisan leader. Marshal '1 ito. If King Peter accepts the proposal, it is believed in Yugoslav quarters it will be tantamount to his abandoning any hope of returning to Yugoslavia, except as a private citizen. If he refuses. Marshal Tito may proclaim the present provisional Administration as the. only rightful Government, and ask for Allied recognition. Meanwhile great distress is reported from the country. Hundreds of deaths from hunger have been reported already. and the corning months are expected to be a worse strain. It is feared that help from Unrra will not be available before. March. 'I he Russian Government has offered grain, but transport is not available. Marshal Tito is reported to have asked for the four Yugoslav ships now in the Allied pool to be placed at his disposal. STALIN'S BIRTHDAY MANY CONGRATULATIONS (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. '2l Many cablegr ms and messages of congratulation, including one from Mr Churchill, have been arriving for Marshal Stalin at the Kremlin on the occasion of his 65th birthday. The Daily Express, in a tribute to Marshal Stalin, says: "For three years this great leader of men has personified the courage, the resolution and dogged endeavour of the Russian spirit against which German armies have dashed themselves to destruction. For Marshal Stalin his 66th year will be the year of his mightiest triumph. For the suffering world it will he the year of final and glorious liberation." Most Soviet workers will not even know of Marshal Stalin's birthday. The Russians do not pay much attention to the birthdays of their prominent people and there are never any celebrations. Marshal Stalin today will just go on working as usual in the Kremlin. RAIN IN AUSTRALIA DROUGHT NOT YET BROKEN (Need. 8.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. '2l Rain has fallen in many parts of New South Wales, but the divisional meteorologist issues the warning that the drought has not yet broken. Country correspondents of Sydney newspapers today describe how farmers' ran joyfully into the rain where the storms occurred. In both Queensland and South Australia substantial rains have fallen and it is hoped that today's rains in New South Wales may be a preliminary to further heavier falls which may end the drought early in January. The drought Itas caused* the worst Christmas shortage of good quality fruit and vegetables for 20 years. AMERICAN COMPLAINT (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Dec. 120 Textile machinery dealers, discouraged by their recent experiences in attempting to do business with countries in the British sphere of influence, are evading inquiries from these countries, says the New York Times. Britain has prevented transactions by holding up foreign exchange. In one instance. a deal was made for textile plant for the Near East, but it was not completed because the manufacturers could not secure a letter of credit which had been promised for four months.