MANY TOWNS CAPTURED

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22461, 23 September 1944, Page 5

MANY TOWNS CAPTURED

RUSSIANS’ SWIFT OFFENSIVE GERMANS LEAVING ESTONIA (Received Sept 23, 1 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22 Marshal Stalin, in an Order of the Day, says: “Forces of the Leningrad front, as a result of a swift offensive, fought their way on September 23 into Tallinn, the capital of the Estonian Soviet Republic, an important naval base and a large port on the Baltic Sea.” The Red Army in its drive to Tallinn also captured more than 800 inhabited localities, including the town and railway junction of Tapa, also the towns of Paide and Poltsamma, says a Moscow communique. The P.ussians north-west and west of Valga fought their way into more than 60 inhabited localities.

The Red Army south-east of Sanok occupied as the result of stubborn fighting more than 30 localities. The Russians in west Rumania, in co-operation with the Rumanian Army, occupied the town and large railway centre of Arad, also mere than 50 inhabited localities. Part of Estonia Evacuated The German overseas news agency’s military commentator says that the German Command is evacuating northern Estonia because of the situation which has arisen following the signature of the RussoFinnieh Armistice. There is no longer any necessity to protect Finland’s southern flank. That is why the German command can now dispense with the long northern flank. The German defence against the Russians has improved as a result of this move.