RUSSIA AND JAPAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 202, 24 August 1944, Page 5

RUSSIA AND JAPAN

Recd. 10 p.m. Chungking, Aug. 23. The Chinese newspaper National Herald, which reflects the views of the Chinese Foreign Office, predicted to-day that Russia will declare war on Japan in the near future. The Herald made the prediction, after regretting the necessity. of two separate conferences at Dumbarton Oaks, because Russia had not declared war on Japan.

the Balkans. This new offensive means that the Russians are attacking over 1000 miles from the Baltic to the Black Sea, with an additional offensive in progress in the far north against Finland. Stalin’s latest order reveals that General Malinvosky has taken General Koniev's place as leader c r the "nd Ukrainian Army. Pender is 70 miles from the Black Sea. The Berlin .radio commentator, von Hammer, admitted that . Jassv he.' been evacuated. He said: “Soviet tank concentrations and in'-ntr--formations on either side of Jess'’ which had been held for a mass o'fensive, went over to the attack afte ' a violent artillery preparation an' supported by bombers. Jassy was abandoned because it was by-passed on botii sides.” Last night's Soviet communique said: “The Russians south of Tartu have captured 30 places, also southwest of Mitava have repelled major German and infantry attacks and captured Zambrow. south-east oLonza. The Red Armv has wage-' battles north-east of Praga. where it has cleared the Germans from the southern nank of the Bug River fo’ 40 miles between Olechny and Slob and has captured 40 localities. “General Malinvosky's troops on the Second Ukrainian Front between August 20-22 have killed 13.000 Germans in the Jassv area and taken prisoner 7000. Thev have also captured much bootv and destroyed 89 tanks and self-propelled guns. General Tolbukhin’s troops on the 3rd Ukrainian Front between August 2022 in the Bender area have killed 12 000 Germans and taken prisoner 5655, besides capturing much booty."