RUMANIAN DIVISIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25625, 28 August 1944, Page 5

RUMANIAN DIVISIONS

SURRENDER TO' RED ARMY CAPTURE OF ISMAIL (Rec. 11.50 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 27. The surrender of four Rumanian infantry divisions and one tank division to Russian troops of the Third Ukrainian Front is reported in a Soviet communique. Russian troops on this front also took prisoner over 10,000 German officers and men. Soviet troops took by storm the town and fortress of Ismail, and also occupied two district centres in the Ismail region. Troops of the Third Ukrainian Front to-day took 21,000 prisoners, the greater number of whom were Germans. The Russians, south-west of Kishinev, are successfully fighting for the liquidation of the encircled Germans. They succeeded, after stubborn fighting, in splitting the enemy into several separate units. Fighting for the annihilation of the encircled enemy continues.

A Russian supplementary communique states that the Germans southwest of Jelgava have regrouped and replenished their battered divisions, which launched 11 attacks throughout the day against the Russian positions, but were repulsed. Troops of the Second Ukrainian Front west of Roman reached the Distritu River on a broad front, and north of Focsani they crossed the'Serat River and captured Adjud. The Germans in this region are retreating in disorder. The number of prisoners is rising hourly. The enemy encircled south-west of Kishinev again tried to break out towards the Prut River crossings, but everywhere they were beaten back. The Germans are now hemmed in isolated pockets which are under constant bombing and artillery fire. They are suffering enormous losses. Towns near frontline roads leading to the rear are crammed with columns of prisoners. Russian planes raided Vardovadso, in Northern Norway. A Rumanian communique says: “ Powerful German forces moved against Bucharest. The Rumanians counter-attacked and encircled an enemy-held zone. The liquidation of the enemy is imminent. “ Our comradeship in arms with our great allies was inaugurated by 400 British and American bombers and fighters which supported our attack. The enemy tried to reinforce his troops in Bucharest with a powerful group which forced the Danube at Giurgiu, but violent reaction from our defences compelled the enemy, to withdraw from Giurgiu southward of the Danube. The German Air Force continued its attacks against Bucharest, destroying cultural institutions and inflicting many casualties.”

General Bors, in a communique, states that the heavy bombardment of Warsaw by guns and mortars and from the air continued on Friday. There were numerous local fierce _ engagements. On the whole, both sides hold their previous positions.