RUSSIAN TROOPS DRIVE INTO YUGOSLAVIA

Southland Times, Issue 25484, 3 October 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN TROOPS DRIVE INTO YUGOSLAVIA

ADVANCE TO BULGARIA’S FRONTIER

(United Press Association—-Telegraph Copyright) (Rec. 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, October 2. After their crossing of the Danube, Russian troops have driven deep into Yugoslavia and are now close to the northern frontier of Bulgaria. Units of the Red Army have taken a town 50 miles south-west of the Iron Gate. The Germans are resisting strongly. Marshal Tito’s patriot Yugoslav forces have assisted the Russians and at one point patriot forces routed the Germans in a stiff battle in which the enemy casualties were 2500. In the north the Russians are continuing to close in on Riga, but they have yet to reduce many German points of resistance.

The Russians are moving west up the southern bank road of the broad, winding Danube to add weight to the drive towards Belgrade, Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna.

The Germans evacuated from Finland are making a desperate last stand with the remnants of their Baltic army on the Estonian islands of Hiuma and Sarema, above the Gulf of Riga. German units were among the prisoners taken on the smaller island of Mahu which yesterday was liberated by Soviet and Estonian corps operating from General Govorov’s front. The Germans were surprised at the speed of the Estonian cutters in crossing the five miles of the straits and at the storming of the steep sloping coast. The Germans were either wiped out or surrendered.

A Soviet communique states that the Russians have advanced into Yugoslavian territory south of Turnuseverin and fought their way into a number of inhabited localities, including Kupuziste, 15 miles south-west of Turnuseverin, Majoilovac, seven miles south of Brazapalanka, which was captured yesterday, and Prahova, five miles north-west of Negotin. The enemy’s position in northern Translyvania has deteriorated as a result of a Russian sweep across the Hungarian plain west .of Timisoara where no natural barriers hinder the advance. The German News Agency reports a new, strong Russian attack against the northern passes in the Carpathians where fierce fighting is raging. The Hungarian High Command admits Russian advances in the Szeged sector.

A communique from General Bor, the Polish Commander at Warsaw, states that the situation in Warsaw is serious. There is heavy fighting in the centre of the city. The home army has no communication with the suburb of Zoliboruz. In the Dampionow Forest, on the approaches to Warsaw, Polish units are being pushed westwards by strong enemy forces which, after having been evacuated across the Vistula, are concentrating in this area.