THREATS TO EAST PRUSSIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 194, 15 August 1944, Page 5

THREATS TO EAST PRUSSIA

TRIPLE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE (11 p.iii.) London, Aug. 14.' Two Russian armies are moving toward tlie border of East Prussia from the south, and a third stands poised for attack toward the eastern frontier. One army, moving from the south, is within 17 miles of the border.

Russian forces on the Baltic front, moving through Estonia, have reached a point half-way between Pskov and the sea, and arc within a few miles of the railway from Riga to Tartu. These armies threaten the Germans in Estonia with isolation.

Taking immediate advantage ot the joining up ot Marshal .Rokossovsky’s and General Zakharov’s forces north of Siedlce, the Red Army north-west of Bialystok, has opened a large-scale offensive against East Prussia, says Moscow radio "The Russian troops striking west and north from Bialystok have pierced the German defences on the Biebrza River, which was the last natural defence line before East Prussia and lying 17 miles before the border,” said the radio. "The Germans were unable to close the breach and hold the Russians in the intermediary defence lines.” The Berlin radio commentator von Pato, confirmed that a fresh dangerous attack had been launched. He said: "After bringing up 10 new rifle divisions, the Russians mounted a new, grand-scsle offensive against East Prussia in a westerly direction. The Russians have succeeded in making a breach two and a-half miles wide and half-a-mile deep.” "Tne Russians yesterday captured by storm Verro. 50 miles west of Pskov, on the Pskov-Valk railway,” says to-night Soviet communique. "The Russians, north-west of Rezekne, broke the enemy resistance and occupied the town and rail junction of Madona, 75 miles east of Riga, besides 20 other places. The Red Army, north-west and west of Bialystok. captured 80 places, including Goniadz, 26 miles south-south-west of Augustow. 17 miles from East Prussia. The Russians, north-west and north of Siedlce. have occupied over 100 places, including Mostuvka, 11' miles north-east of Warsaw. The I Russians, west of Sandomierz, have, repelled tank and infantry counterattacks against their bridgehead on the west bank of Vistula."

A British United Press correspondent says that Marshal Rokossovsky has accelerated his advance in the Warsaw sector, where he is rapidly mopping up the entire north-east of Warsaw in order to gain complete control of the Warsaw-Bialystok railway.before launching a final assault against the Polish capital. Recd. 6 p.m Rugby, Aug. 13. In a special communique Moscow announces that the Germans lost more than 60.000 killed and 9636 prisoners on the second Baltic front from July 10 to August 10. In that period, on that front, the Russians destroyed 167 aircraft, 147 tanks, about 1000 guns and captured 79 tanks and 280 guns.— 8.0.W.