DRIVE TOWARD BELGRADE

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22468, 2 October 1944, Page 5

DRIVE TOWARD BELGRADE

RUSSIANS BATTERING THROUGH HEAVY FIGHTING IN WARSAW (OlDrlal Wireless) (Received Sept. 2, noon) RUGBY, Sept. 1 Crossing the Danube from Rumania into the north-eastern corner of Yugoslavia not far from Bulgaria the Red Army is battering its way through the German strongpoints, says a Moscow message. Marshal Tito’s partisans and the Yugoslav population are energetically helping with guerilla activity. The Russians are moving west up the southern Bank Road of the Broad, winding Danube to add weight to the drive towards Belgrade, Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna.

A communique from General Bor states: The situation in Warsaw is serious. There is heavy fighting in the centre of the city. The home Army has no communication with the suburb of Zoliboruz. In the Dampinow forest, on the approaches to Warsaw, Polish units are being pushed westwards by strong enemy forces, which, after having been evacuated across the Vistula river are concentrating on this area. Desperate Last Stand

A Moscow message says that the Germans evacuated from Finland are making a desperate last stand with the remnants of their Baltic Army on the Estonian islands of Hiuma and Sarema, above the Gulf of Riga. German units were among the prisoners on the smaller island of Mahu, which yesterday was liberated by Soviet and Estonian corps operating on General Govorov’s front.

The Germans were surprised at the speed of Estonian cutters which crossed the five mile straits and at the storming of the steep sloping coast. The Germans were either wiped out or surrendered.