RUSSIANS MAINTAIN MASTERY IN KUBAN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 108, 8 May 1943, Page 5

RUSSIANS MAINTAIN MASTERY IN KUBAN

ADVANCE CONTINUES Steady Progress Towards Novorossisk N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, May 7. The Russians are maintaining their mastery of the air over the Kuban area, and are also holding the initiative on the ground, where they are attempting to cut off the enemy troops in the north-west of Krymskaya. They are progressing slowly and steadily towards Novorossisk. The entire north bank of the Kuban is entirely in Russian hands. Russian artillery completely dominates Novorossisk. They are not bombarding the city because they want, as far as possible, to recapture it intact. Red Army units are now engaged in heavy fighting in the hills before Novorossisk, with the Germans continuously counter-attacking. Reuters Moscow correspondent says the Germans are moving up reinforcements and counter-attacking unsuccessfully several times daily. Some sectors are also using tanks wherever the boggy ground permits. The Germans appear to be nursing their bombers, which they are protecting with three rings of fighters, but the Red Air Force continues to concentrate against the bombers. Hard fighting can be expected before the Russians cover the last five miles to Novorossisk. The Germans have concentrated most of the heavy material which they saved from the Caucasus retreat, with the result that the Russians are encountering heavy artillery fire. Important Highway Cut The British United Press Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians, advancing through a mountain pass towards Novorossisk cut an important, highway and occupied a hill overlooking an inhabited locality. The Germans are throwing in large reserves to cover the retreat to the port, but the Russian mass air raids are effectively disorganising the German rearguard actions.

As many as 400 bombers are reportto be participating in the Russian nightly attacks against German communications. Day bombers in recent attacks against German airfields in the Kuban destroyed or. damaged at least 470 planes on the ground. Berlin radio reports new Russian attacks on the front south of Lake Ilmen, but gives no details.

A Soviet supplementary communique says: North-east of Novorossisk the enemy attempted to stem the Soviet advance and launched counter attacks which often developed into hand-to-hand fighting. The Red Army stubbornly resisted and occupied several important heights. In one sector alone the Germans lost 1500 killed. Many tanks were destroyed and the Russians captured much booty. A Soviet bomber destroyed several tanks, 25 guns, blew up an ammunition dump and wiped out a large number of troops.