RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE SAID TO BE READY WHEN INVASION STARTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 96, 24 April 1944, Page 5

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE SAID TO BE READY WHEN INVASION STARTS

T P- m -\ London, April 23. Russian authorities report “no change on the Eastern front,” ana, as this phrase has not been used for a long time by the Soviet Command, speculation in Germany, and in London, suggests that there is at present a hill preceding a storm, which will break when invasion'armies are unleashed from the West.

“No material changes took place yesterday (Saturday),’” states a Russian communique. “Soviet forces on all fronts destroyed 87 tanks and 54 planes. An air communique reports that long-range bombers, on Friday night attacked shale oil plants in Estonia. One bomber is missing.” The British United Press points out this is the first Russian communique for ten months, which has announced no material cnanges. The phrase was last used on July 4, 1943. The German news agency’s commentator, von Hallensleben, says that very strong and well-equipped units from Germany's eastern reserves have been brougnt up to the Russian front and the German Command is fully prepared, not only in the west but also in the east, where the Russians are evidently preparing a major offensive to coincide with the Allied invasion. The German Command describes the orcsent lull on all fronts as the calm before the storm.

GERMAN TANKS FAIL

Recd. 1 a.m. London. April 24. Massed German tanks have been trying for four days to punch a hole in Marshal Zhukov's lines south-east of Stanislawow, but they are being met by a hail of fire from Russian guns staggered in depth, says the British United Press correspondent at Moscow. The Germans are trying to hold the northern corridor into Estonia by similar methods on a small scale and are being dealt with in the same fashion. The Russians yesterday repulsed two German attempts to attack their positions south-west of Narva. While last night's Russian communique did not mention the land fighting in the Crimea, Vichy radio reports powerful Red Army attacßs in the Sebastopol area.