JUGOSLAV CAPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25660, 7 October 1944, Page 7

JUGOSLAV CAPITAL

RED ARMY CLOSING IN SPEARHEADS EIGHT MILES AWAY (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 6. Red Army spearheads were last reported only eight miles from the Jugoslav capital of Belgrade. They are astride a first-class road leading to the city. The Russians and Jugoslavs are encircling Belgrade in a joint drive to seal off all escape routes from the capital, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. Marshal Tito’s patriots, operating on the Avala sector. 18 miles south of Belgrade, routed a German column. Red Army columns are simultaneously converging on the city from the east, north-east, and north, while another force is wheeling north-west-wards to cut the main German escape route through Szeged to Budapest Rome radio stated that the Russians are in the streets of Belgrade, where street fighting is going on. This is not confirmed from any other source. Von Hammer, speaking on Berlin radio, said the expected large-scale Russian attack against Osel Island, in

the Baltic, began this morning from Moon Island, which the Russians already occupied. Von Hammer said: “ Seven Russian divisions are participating in the action, and heavy fighting was raging at noon in the landing areas. The Russians are using several hundred assault boats.” Von Hammer also announced that the all-out Russian offensive which had been expected for many days began this morning west of Siaiuliai. Four tank corps and 12'to 14 rifle divisions were concentrated for the attack. The Red Army breached the German positions north-west of Siauliai, and fierce fighting is going on. (Siauliai, captured by the Russians during the summer campaign, is 87 miles east of Memel, and the same distance northeast of Tilsit.) Reuter’s Agency points out that the Red Army assault on this sector constitutes a threat to the German forces in the Riga area and North Lithuania, and also to the northern border of East Prussia. ’ Von Hammer added that the Russians had also pushed strong tank and infantry forces into the Narew River sector, parallel to the major attack. This area is also to be reckoned with. In Eastern Sibera, Soviet troops operating in the direction of the Danube and Morava Rivers occupied the localities of Bela, Drkva, Vrsac, and Beckerek, states a Jugoslav communique.. Jugoslav forces routed a German column and Chetnik troops west of Petrovac. An enemy motorised column was smashed and 180 prisoners taken on the road'from Bor to Zajevica. In Croatia a number of enemy strongpoints were liquidated and the Trieste-Llubljana railway has again been destroyed at several places.

So difficult is the terrain where the Russian main forces are battling with the Germans in Jugoslavia, south-west of Turnu Severin, that the Russians have switched to horses, mules, and oxen to carry supplies, says Red Star. Enemy resistance is most,stubborn, with fighting for every path and valley, but the Red Air Force is cooperating with special storm troops, who attack individual strongpoints while the main forces carry out a wide outflanking manoeuvre.