EAST PRUSSIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22968, 11 August 1944, Page 5

EAST PRUSSIA

GRIPPED IN MIGHTY PINCERS Incessant Attacks On Border By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, August 9. East Prussia is being gripped by a mighty pair of pincers now that General Zakharov's force below Augustow has joined General Bagramyan’s men, who started their movement above the Niemen River, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. General Chernyakhovsky, in the centre, is holding down the bulk of the German defenders who were rushed to the Suwaiki area when the danger of the Russian penetration into East Prussia along the main railway to Koenigsberg seemed imminent. The threat in the centre depleted the German forces in the north and south, enabling General Zakharov to join up with General Bagramyan. The German News Agency says that in dazzling sunshine and oppresssive heat, the Russians have for days been incessantly attacking the border of East Prussia. Young troops have been newly brought up from the German garrisons manning our border positions. Field-Marshal Moder (German commander-in-chief on the central front) speaking over the Berlin radio declared: -‘After weeks of withdrawals the time to stand has come. I am relying on total mobilisation to make our bulwark against the Russians impenetrable. The Berlin radio stated that 10.000 men from all sections of the population of Koenigsberg volunteered to build the East Prussian wall. Already 300,000 trench lines have been built. Nothing is being left to chance regarding the Russian invasion of East Prussia, says Reuter’s correspondent at Moscow. Different Plans of Attack Commanders of Red Army tank units are being given five or six different plans of attack, and the Russian High Command’s general preparations for the assault against East Prussia are believed to be almost complete. Russian corps and army commanders are studying in . detail areas in East Prussia which are expected to tjecome decisive battlegrounds. General Chernyakhovsky has apparently completed his mopping-up operations around Kaunas, redlsposing his main forces a few miles from the German border.

Red Air Force scout planes are dailysweeping over the frontier aiea, sighting enemy troop concentrations and fuel dumps. A Polish underground communique from Warsaw states that German artillery at Praga is heavily shelling the opposite bank of the Vistula. The enemy is making a strong effort to capture an important railway station. The morale of the underground army is still high.

The German News Agency reports that the Russians, after violent artillery preparation, reopened the offensive south-west of Bialystok with powerful tank and infantry battle groups, backed by numerous planes. The Russians succeeded in driving wedges into the German lines. Heavy fighting is still raging. The Russians have resumed the offensive north-west and north of Siedlce.

The Soviet communique to-night says that Russians west of Rezekne captured 30 places. North-west of Dvinsk they captured 200 places, and south-west and west of Jelgava they occupied more than 200 inhabited localities. Nearing Czechoslovakia The Red Army, north-west of Marijempil, is engaged in repelling major counter-attacks by infantry and tanks, in w’hich they inflicted heavy losses in manpower and equipment. The Russians resumed the offensive north-west and north of Siedlce, occupied Sokolow and Wegrow, and 150 other places. The Russians, west of Candomierz. continued to fight for the extension of the bridgehead on the west bank of the Vistula and occupied several places. Also west and south of Drohobycz they occupied Skole, the nearest point to the Czechoslovak frontier so far reached.

The Russians are throwing more and more forces into the Latvian battlefields to deal with the mangled but still formidable left wing of the German Army cut off in the Baltic States, says the Moscow correspondent of Reuter’s. German veterans who were among the first to invade Russia in 1941 are now fighting their last battle in a desperate attempt to break through the Russian ring and force their back to East Prussia. This struggle may last for weeks, and no forecasts are made here.

The Moscow radio says it is officially announced that between Tuesday, August 1, and last Monday, the Russians destroyed or disabled on all fronts a total of 740 German tanks, while 643 German planes were shot down in air combat or destroyed on the ground. Building Fortifications In addition to those in East Prussia, who are already mobilised, all persons between the ages of 15 and 63 living at Poznan and in the Warthegau area, adjoining Poznan, also in West Prussia and Danzig have been called up under an order from the Reich Commisar for Defence (Gauleiter Greiser) to build fortifications against the Russian armies, says the German News Agency. “The first batch was called up at Poznan, West Prussia, last Sunday and the second batch yesterday. The callup is based on trade categories and the percentage of persons mobilised depends on the importance of the work. Expectant mothers are among the few who are exempt. Those called up must bring a spade, shovel or pick, blanket, bowl, knife, fork, spoon and food for three days. The decree compels the Polish part of the population to do labour service,” says the radio. German Preparations

The Germans are rushing up great masses of men, tanks and planes for the great battle for East Prussia, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. Battlefront reports state that huge reinforcements of men and equipment are pouring into the province. Russian reconnaissance pilots report, that the Luftwaffe is massing ready for a big attack. New squadrons of bombers and fighters occupy airfields throughout the province.

Russians pilots all day long are racing up and down roads and railways checking German movements, and watching for signs of enemy concentrations at strategic points. All the evidence indicates that Hitler has ordered the Germans to hang on to East Prussia at all costs. The Berlin radio announced that during the last 10 days, more than 1800 miles of trenches have been dug, and thousands of pillboxes constructed in East Prussia. Tens of thousands of men from all occupations and from all walks of life have volunteered for the construction of fortifications.