Evening star., 1944-01-19
Reds Push Drive
To End Siege
OF 0fLeningrad
Twin Attacks Against
Nozis Developing
On Large Scale
BY the Associated Press.

| oy Inc AsSOCldteQ PreSS.
MOSCOW, Jan. 19.-Red Army
forces on the Leningrad and
VOlkhov fronts in Northern
Russia sprang forward today in
new offensive calculated to
end the German siege of Lenin-
grad, second city of the Soviet
Union.
Two neighboring army groups, 1t
was disclosed, launched simultane-
Gus assaults several days ago to
break through strong German de-
tense lines and are now developing
their drives on a large scale. pre-
vious German broadcasts indicated
the new Russian attacks began last
FridayD
No specific objectives have as vet
been announced as captured. but in
that thickly-populated and heavily
fortified area a few yards or miles
of ground rank as important as
some cities and towns in other more
open sectors.
Twin Operations Started.
The fact that the launching of
the offensive could be announced
was taken here to mean that it is
proceeding successfully.
Russian troops on the Leningrad
front began their push south of the
suburban town of Oranienbaum. 20
miles west of the city adjoining
Peterhof, known as the Versailles of
Russia and the former home of the
Cars. The town lies on the shores
OF the Baltic just south of the island
naval base of Kronstadt and has
been in Russian hands since the
siege began II months ago.
At the same time Red Army forces
on the Volkhov front attacked north
OF Novgorod, 100 miles southeast of
Leningrad between Lake linen and
the Baltic.
The twin operations appeared to
have been planned jointly to break
the German semicircle around Len
ingrad, under constant threat of
enemy bombardment.
Germans Dug in Near City.
The blockade of Leningrad was
broken a year ago by Red Army
thrust through the fortress town of
Schlesselburg, which opened mar
row corridor to the east The Ger
mans, however. dug in close to the
western and southern sides of the
city, constructing an elaborate sys-
tenn of Notifications.
Berlin broadcasts acknowl-
edged reverses on both fronts and
said the Russians were continu-
ing their attacks with waves of
tanks and strong infantry forces.)
The double offensive aimed at re-
lieving Leningrad added to the diff
culties of the Germans in North
Russia, already sorely harassed by
another Soviet drive north of No
vosokolniki toward the rear of their
positions south of Leningrad.
40 More Towns Taken.
A Russian war bulletin said these
troops, part of Gen. Ivan Bagha-
mian's 1st Baltic Army, yesterday
captured 40 more towns in their slow
but steady advance, including the
railway station of Shubino, five
miles north of Novosokolniki, which
still is held by the Germans. Strong
enemy counterattacks were thrown
back with heavy losses, the Soviet
communique said.
AS the frozen North fared into
activity, front dispatches reported
continued gains in the Western
Ukraine, despite unreasonable rair
and mud. Here Gen. Nikolai Va
tutins 1st Ukrainian Army increased
its threat to the key communica
tions center of Rovno, 10 miles
south of Pinsk.
Troops of Gen. Vatutins center
stormed the town of Slavuta, or
the -Berdichev main trunk
line and the Gorin River, 80 miles
southeast of Rovno. They bypassec
the rail junction Of Shepetovka, l;
miles to the southeast, in their ad-
vance, and captured a railway train
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