GOING ALL OUT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22992, 8 September 1944, Page 5

GOING ALL OUT

RUSSIAN BID FOR POLAND Warsaw May Be Relieved By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright (12.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 77. The Russians, now going all out in the battle for Central Poland, are speeding up the attack against the German defence belt along the Narew, says the correspondent of the British United Press in Moscow.

Major battles have now flared up all the way from Praga to Ostroteka. The Red Ax-my is striking from the Ostroteka area to the Vistula. From here they will be able to attempt a turning movement either against Warsaw or north to East Prussia. The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press states that the relief of Warsaw may be near. Russian successes north-east, where they have reoccupied Wolomin, appeal' to have resulted in the defeat of a large and well-equipped German army between Warsaw and Lomza. There are indications that this may be a breakthrough in considerable depth, which will lead to the freeing of Warsaw. The Russians are employing large groups of paratroops for a rapid advance to link up with Marshal Broz-Tito. Kladovo Point, which the Russians have reached on the YugoslavRumanian border, is famous as a centre of partisan activity, reports the correspondent of the British United Press. While the Russians are sweeping across Rumania, the Yugoslavs have been conducting a great campaign against German communications with the intention of trapping as many Germans as possible in the Balkans. The Belgrade-Zagreb line, one of the Germans’ main escape routes, was cut at least times. There seems little chance of the Germans defending the Yugoslav side of the Danube, which the Red Army has now reached at Kladovo, as they are fighting with their backs to a wall of mountains which are infested with partisans, and their main supply line is the Belgrade railway, which is almost certainly cut. Marshal Broz-Tito’s plan is apparently to concentrate as much strength as possible in Central Serbia, and thus threaten the chief German line of escape—the Salonika-Sofia-Nish-Belgrade railway—with attacks from both sides. Russian advanced elements are now only 90 miles from the railway. Tire Berlin radio reports that huge forces are being hurled against the Germans defending the southern borders of East Prussia. The most savage fighting is going on. ■The German Overseas News Agency states that the Soviet Supreme Command has thrown in a fourth army, and battles are raging between the Narew and the Bug. Pressure against the German lines has increased. German reconnaissance reports powerful Soviet concenti'ations in the rear.