BECOMING SERIOUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1943, Page 3

BECOMING SERIOUS

POSITION OF GERMANS IN BALKANS REPORTED URGENT CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS FURTHER PATRIOT SUCCESSES (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 10. According to the radio at Bari, southeastern Italy, the German commander in Yugoslavia has appealed to Hitler to send immediate reinforcements, as the position of the Germans, who are locked in bitter battles with the patriots, is becoming more serious. The British United Press, drawing attention to the patriots’ offensive against the railway system in Yugoslavia, points out that the Germans must gain control of the network if they are to move forces to the Adriatic coast. A Yugoslav Partisan radio communique reports that successful operations continue in the Zara, Susak, Karlovac, Ogulin, and Varazdin . sectors. Patriots blew up a big railway bridge in the vicinity of Dubravica and destroyed an important railway station at Vagorac. They now hold most of the railway between Zagreb and Koprivnica. The 7th Partisan Division is now advancing against Karlovac. Violent fighting continues on the Susak sector and also round Ogulin, where the German garrison is encircled. REPORTED CUT OFF GERMANS IN TRIESTE AND ZAGREB. YUGOSLAV ATTACK ON RAILWAY (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. Trieste and Zagreb, two of the greatest German strongholds in the Balkans, it is reported, are cut off from the outside world by converging partisan armies, declared the Bari radio. The Germans in Trieste are completely besieged. Yugoslav forces overcame strong German resistance and occupied heights dominating the town. The all-out partisan offensive against the German-controlled railway network is continuing unabated. MORE PATRIOT GAINS NAZIS FORCED TO RETREAT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, October 11. A Yugoslav communique reports that successful offensive operations have continued along The Ogulin-Karlovac-Zagreb railway. In the Susak region the Germans were forced to retreat at some points. Croat patriots occupied a point on the Zagreb-Belgrade railway and derailed two armoured trains. In Eastern Bosnia partisans occupied Bijelina, 35 miles north-east of Tusia, the capture of which was announced last week. In Slovenia, violent fighting, continues for the railways between Lyubliana. Trieste, Gorizia and Fiume.