Evening star., 1945-04-25
Killers Al pine Hideout Bombed;
Reds at E|be Along 22-Mi|e Front
German Capital
Cut Off From
Reinforcement
By the Associated Press.


LONDON, April Is. - Sovie
troops have reached the Elbt
River on a 22-mile front north.
west of Dresden and all but COM
pleted encirclement of Berlin
slicing the last escape rail line
to the west, the German high
command announced today.
Moscow announced Monday that
some Russians had reached the Elbe
Monday northwest of Dresden. At
last reports, Americans were at the
Nude River, east of Leipzig, and
20 miles from the Elbe there.
The broadcast German communi-
que said the Russians reached the
Elbe between Riesa, Is miles north
west of Dresden, and Torgau, an
other % miles farther northwest.
Reds Hold Half of Berlin.
Half of Berlin was held by Soviet
troops beating down German barri-
cades of stone and iron, knocking
back German tanks, and fighting
Nazis who popped out of subways
behind Russian lines. Berlin was
described as a wreckage of stone
jungles roaring with bitter battle.
The 1st White Russian Army cut 9
miles southwark west of Berlin to
Ketzin, IA miles due west of the cap
ital, all but encircling the city, the
German communique said.
This push by Marshal Gregory
Zhukov's troops, carrying 9 miles
south of Nauen. which was captured
yesterday, cut the Germans last
railroad of escape or reinforcement
westward through Spandau.
Reach Babelsberg.
The Germans said the 1st Ukrain-
ian Army had reached Babelsberg,
fashionable suburb between Potsdam
and Berlin. Babelsberg is liz miles
east and slightly south of Ketzin.
There the Soviets shipped the last
link Southwestward.
Other troops of the 1st Ukrainian
Army were striking northward from
a point southwest of the capital
toward a junction with zhukov.
Any German outlet from Berlin was
under Soviet artillery fire.
The Germans said Russians hit
ting into Berlin from the south had
advanced to a line from Babelsberg
to Zehlendorf to Neukoelln.
Two Armies United.
The two assault armies already
had united in the southeastern Sec
tion of the city, pocketing German
forces to the southeast.
Russian guns were methodically
reducing the huge city block by
block.
The Schlesischer (Silesian Rail-
way Station and all districts north
and east of it were captured. This
brought the Russians within mile
of the center of the city and the
Unter den Linden.
Official Russian accounts showed
the 1st White Russian and 1st
Ukrainian Armies still IA miles apart
in their effort to encircle the city
completely, but Red Army guns
COIIlIIldIlueu tVcll tll1o lCuldlII1iA5
gap and made it virtually impos-
sible for the Germans either to
flee from Berlin or bring in rein
forcements.
Help on Way, Goebbels Says.
Naz Propaganda Minister Paul
Goebbels, however, in a statement
broadcast over the Hamburg radio,
told the population of Berlin that
help was on the way and appealed
to the garrison to hold out.
Important forces to relieve the
defenders of Berlin are being
brought up," he said. Until they
arrive we have to scratch together
all our energy and all our courage
in order to hold the enemy at bay"
Goebbels added that mo white
flags will be shown in the capital,
which is fighting for its life"
The beleaguered enemy within the
city threw in repeated counterat-
tacks yesterday, dying by the scores.
The Russians announced that Ger
man dead during the day totaled at
least 5000. The remnants of the