HEAVY FIGHTING IN KUBAN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23941, 7 May 1943, Page 5

HEAVY FIGHTING IN KUBAN

Russians Hold Air Superiority STRONG GERMAN POSITIONS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Ree. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. The Russians attacking the German bridgehead in the Kuban from northeast of Novorossiisk were engaged last night in violent fighting. The latest communique reports tHat the Russians broke through more fortifications, killed many of the enemy, and took many prisoners.

The Soviet High Command still speaks cautiously about the outcome of the battle. The Germans hold naturally strong defensive positions, which they have improved. The terrain is extremely difficult, consisting of hills, valleys, and swamps, with many small streams.

The midnight Russian communique announced the capture of Krymskaya, north-east of Novorossiisk, the loss of which was admitted by the Germans yesterday. The communique added: ‘‘Advancing to a depth of eight miles, after breaking through the enemy defences on a front of 17 miles, our troops also occupied 10 other inhabited localities and captured much booty. The enemy left more than 7000 killed on the battlefield.”

The battle for Novorossiisk and the entire Kuban bridgehead has entered a decisive phase, with the Russians definitely holding air superiority. This and the Russians’ increasing references to the British and American aircraft they are using effectively on the different fronts, dominate the latest reports from Russian sources.

Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow says that the Russian attacks on the Kuban bridgehead have grown into a full-sized offensive, with Soviet artillery at present playing the major land role. The Russians have reached a point overlooking Novorossiisk. It is now clear that operations round the last German foothold in the north Caucasus mainland fall into four groups: (1) attacks along the Kuban Valley: (2) German attempts to beat back the Red Army threatening Novorossiisk; (3) Russian commando raids on the coastline; (4) a big air battle over the Kuban area. American Bombers Used

It is something new for the Germans to find the Red Air Force dominating the sky. The Russians have beaten the Germans from the air in a manner reminiscent of the Battle for Britain. The Russians have been using American Flying Fortresses, as well as British and American medium bombers in recent raids against war centres in eastern Germany. The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain reports that the Luftwaffe in the last two days has lost 125 aeroplanes in the Kuban air battles. "Red Star” says: “Air fighting is constantly going on. The enemy cannot digest the fact that we have air superiority.” The Moscow correspondent of The Times” says that the Red Air Force is in the ascendant over the Caucasian foothills and the Taman marshes. It is blasting the enemy from his tough system of fortifications, and it is also hitting hard against his Crimean airfields. This indicates a remarkable accession to Russian strength during the last year. Russian pilots are now calling the tune. The Germans have rushed fresh fighter squadrons to the Kuban in an attempt to defend their infantry from Stormoviks and protect their lines of communication. RUSSIANS BOMB RAIL CENTRES GOMEL, BRYANSK AND BREST LITOVSK (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. The Moscow radio has announced that long-range Soviet bombers on Wednesday night carried out mass raids on the railway junctions of Brest Lltovsk, Gomel, and Bryansk. Naval aeroplanes bombed enemy shipping at Yalta and Constanza, on the Black Sea, hitting several vessels. Referring to the earlier Russian raids against Minsk, Gomel, Orsha, and Bryansk, the correspondent of the British United Press says that the Russian Air Force struck another strategic blow against German preparations for an offensive on the central and southern fronts, and interrupted supplies from these junctions destined for the Smolensk and Orel sectors further south, where fighting is expected to develop soon. It is officially stated in Moscow that Soviet guerrillas are playing havoc with the German railway system round Gomel. Traffic over a big area has been brought to a standstill as a result of their activities. A number of trains have been blown up in three districts. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press declares that the Red Air Force has many thousands of aeroplanes massed behind the front lines ready to hurl against any new Axis thrust. Thousands of British and American fighters and bombers are waiting, with thousands of Russianmade aeroplanes, In what is Russia’s greatest air armada of the war. Hurricanes and Airacobras based on Russia already total thousands. The Russians also control a formidable force of the twin-engined American bombers which have proved so effective in North Africa and the Pacific. GIRAUD DECLINES REQUEST MEETING DE GAULLE IN ALGIERS (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON. May 5. An Algiers message says that General Giraud has declined General de Gaulle’s request that their meeting should be held in Algiers. He adheres to the original proposal, insisting that the meeting place should be in a city other than Algiers, because of the need for calm during the negotiations. BIG BRITISH CONVOY LEAVES GIBRALTAR PARIS RADIO REPORT LONDON, May 5. The Paris radio, quoting a message from La Linea, said that a new big British convoy, including warships and 20 transports laden with landing barges and armoured vehicles left Gibraltar last night. GERMAN FLEET MOVE REPORTED LONDON, May S. The Algiers radio states that the German fleet is reported to be sailing from Norwegian harbours into the North Sea. Food Restrictions in Sydney.—ln order to make more beef available for canneries the quantities for civilian consumption in Sydney are to be reduced. Mutton will make up the difference, Sydney’s milk supplies_ have also been heavily reduced. No milk is now being supplied to milk bars and the quantity for shop sale has been cut 50 per cent.—Sydney, May 6. United States European Command.— It is officially announced that MajorGeneral William S. Key, of the United States Army, has assumed temporary command in the European theatre of operations. He succeeds LieutenantGeneral Frank Maxwell Andrews, who was killed in an air accident, by virtue of seniority.—London, May 5.