RUSSIAN GAINS IN KUBAN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23943, 10 May 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN GAINS IN KUBAN

New Enemy Defences

Reached

GERMANS LOSE MANY PLANES

• (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (RecT 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. The Russians north-east of Novorossiisk have occupied several more tactically important hills, reports Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, The enemy made nine ferocious counterattacks, heavily supported by massed aeroplanes and artillery, but all were repulsed with heavy losses. . The Russians on the mam road between Krymskaya and Novorossiisk stormed and captured a heavily fortified hill and cut off all German communications with Krymskaya. A Russian communique says: On Saturday in the Kuban north-east of Novorossiisk, our troops, overcoming ferocious enemy resistance, approached a new line of German defences. By powerful artillery and air bombing we destroyed enemy fortifications. Twentyone enemy aeroplanes were shot down in aerial combat. Our losses were nine aeroplanes.” The supplement to the communique says. "In the last few days the Red Army has captured booty including 39 mortars, railway rolling stock, and several dumps.” A hundred and ninety German aerpplanes were destroyed by the Red Air Force on Friday, according to a Moscow broadcast late on Friday night. In spite of the activity of enemy fighters, the broadcast stated, large formations of Soviet aeroplanes fulfilled their tasks and destroyed 190 German machines in the air or on the ground. Russian losses were 62 machines. The Red Army advancing from Krymskaya has driven a wedge into the German lines south of the Kuban river and has cut the main defensive link between the German forces at Novorossiisk and those trying to hold out north of the river. Near Novorossiisk

One Russian force is within five miles of Novorossiisk, but a correspondent points out that this last stage is likely to be tough going, as the country is full of hills and steep mountains, and there is a powerful net of fortifications round the city. The Germans have been bringing up reserves of men, tanks, and aircraft, but the Red Air Force still holds mastery of the air over the whole front, and is making rpgss raids on the Germans on their way to the forward areas. The Paris radio reports that Russian artillery fired 20,000 shells in one day during the Kuban offensive. A commentator described the Russian drive down the railway from Krymskaya as aimed to form a junction with the Russian forces landed north of Novorossiisk. The Russians are supplying the latter force by sea because they are unable to use the Tuapse-Novorossiisk road.

The British United Press Moscow correspondent reports that the Russians are advancing through a mountain pass towards Novorossiisk and have 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 frequently participating in the Russian nightly attacks against German communications. Day bombers in recent attacks against German airfields in the Kuban have destroyed or damaged at least 470 aeroplanes on the ground. Russian Air Superiority

The Russians are maintaining 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 north-west of Krymskaya. They’ are progressing slowly but steadily towards Novorossiisk. The entire north bank of the Kuban is entirely in Russian hands and Russian artillery completely dominates Novorossiisk. They are not bombarding the city because they want as far as possible to recapture it intact. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that the Germans are moving up reinforcements and are counter-attacking unsuccessfully several times daily. In some sectors they are also using tanks wherever the boggy ground permits. The Germans appear to be nursing their bombers, which are protected by three rings of fighters, but the Red Air Force continues to concentrate against the bombers. Local activities are reported by the Russians on the central front in the area of Sievsk, south of Balaklaya, and west of Rostov. In the Barents Sea naval units sank an enemy transport and a trawler. The Moscow radio says that a strong formation of long-range Soviet aeroplanes successfully bombed the railway junctions at Dnepropetrovsk, Kremenchug, and Bryansk, on Wednesday night. The junctions were jammed with ammunition, trains and many explosions and fires were observed. ' A German statement quoted by the Vichy radio says that the 58 of more than 100 Soviet aeroplanes which raided the Orel aerodrome yesterday afternoon were shot down. Berlin radio reports new Russian attacks oh the front south of Lake Ilmen, but gives no details.

JUBILATION IN BRITAIN

ADVANTAGES GAINED BY VICTORY

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Jubilation is the keynote in all the British evening newspaper's. The “Evening Standard”, says that the Allies can now be strong at points selected by the High Command. They possess power to impose their will on the enemy. The Tunisian victory will send British and American political prestige soaring in every capital from Stockholm to Istanbul. The announcement of the capture of Tunis and Bizerte came as a great surprise to the American public. Only a day or two ago they were being told that bloody fighting, was ahead in Tunisia.

China has hailed the victory as likely to mark a turning point in the war. Informed sources in Chungking expressed the hope that the news might break the dam which has held up help for China, and turn more attention on the task of crushing Japan. The Government of Iraq has ordered a public holiday in Mosul and Basra to celebrate the victory.

FIGHTING FRENCH COMMANDERS (8.0. W.) , RUGBY, May 3. General de Larminat, Commandcr-in-Chief of the French in the Middle East, who commands the troops which followed the Bth Army from El Alamein to Tunisia, has paid a flying visit to General de Gaulle in London. This was stated after a meeting of the French National Committee. The committee also stated that General de Larminat returned to Algiers yesterday to resume command of his forces on the African front. Rear-Admiral Auboyneau, Comman-der-in-Chief of the Fighting French Navy, arrived in Algiers yesterday with General de Larminat. He is proceeding to St. Maria on a tour of inspection. Indicted for Sabotage.—The United States Justice Department has announced that seven leading officials, including the president, plant manager, chief metallurgist, and plant superintendent, of the National Bronze and Aluminium Foundry Company. Cleveland, and also the company. have been indicted for violation of war-time sabotage law’s by allegedly manufacturing defectively-welded aluminium castings for engines used in British and American combat aeroplanes.—Washington, May 8.