BREAK-THROUGH BY RUSSIANS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 5

BREAK-THROUGH BY RUSSIANS

Attack South-West Of Velikye Luki MORE FIGHTING ON DONETS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. The Russians have made a sensational break-through south-west of Velikye Luki. This action, for the moment at any rate, has diverted attention from the noticeably increasing momentum of the battle in the Kuban. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” describes the action southwest of Velikye Luki as the capture practically intact, of a valuable German sector. The Moscow radio says that the Russians stormed their way through deep fortifications which were built up over six months. The Russians, sweeping on, captured many prisoners and much booty. Dug-outs, pill-boxes, and trenches covered every hollow and

height. The manoeuvre was so rapid that it surprised the Germans, who left the entire defensive system without putting up a fight. The Red Army is still attacking. The Berlin radio said that fighting was flaring up along the whole front after improved weather and consequent hardening of the ground. The Russians were trying to improve their positions in the Kuban, Donets river, Moscow, and Volkhov sectors. In the Lisitichansk sector of the Donets the Germans counter-at-tacked last night for the second night running, in an attempt to regain ground they lost when the previous attack was repulsed. This second attack also failed “Pravda” states that more than 5000 German aeroplanes were destroyed in Russia during the winter. The Moscow radio states that the Germans retreating in the Smolensk area freed typhus germs which wiped out the populations of three villages. The Red Army Medical Corps effectively protected Soviet troops. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that' the Germans are massing large fresh forces at various points along the Russian front.

Axis sources confirm the Russian view that the Germans are preparing for an all-out offensive. The Paris radio declared: “Dayiafter day trains packed with new weapons, material, and vehicles are rolling towards Russia. They represent an uninterrupted line of over 625 miles,”

“It is expected in Moscow that the Germans within the next few days will launch a full-scale offensive on the Moscow front,’’ says the Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” The Berlin radio reports that Russian warships and submarines made a night attempt to penetrate the sea channel fropi Leningrad to Kronstadt to invade the eastern Baltic. The radio says that the Russians, when spotted, put up a smoke-screen and attempted to dazzle the German searchlight crews. Russian artillery from Kronstadt, Leningrad, and the Karelian coast and also Russian aeroplanes participated in the battle. Germans guns sank two ships and damaged two, and dispersed the Russians after an artillery battle lasting three hours.

OFFENSIVE IN RUSSIA HITLER’S PLANS FOR 1943 QUESTION OP ALLIED INVASION LONDON, May 9. How Hitler has changed under the impact of Allied success was revealed to the Istanbul correspondent of the “Daily Express” by a man who lunched with the Fuehrer during Hitler’s talks with one Balkan Quisling. “Hitler is thinner, more absent minded and more pouch-eyed, and he appears to be suffering severely from nervous exhaustion. He has also acquired the habit of biting his finger nails,” said the informant. “Hitler told each Balkan visitor that Germany’s total offensive against Russia in 1943 will be aimed at the final destruction of Russian military power. The Germans will use gas where Russian resistance seems capable of endangering a decisive Germany victory. “Russia will be offered acceptable peace terms if she is not broken by the end of September. The terms will include a 10-year non-aggression pact from Japan as well as Germany. “Any Allied invasion of the Continent will be confined to the outer circle of the European defences, thereby eventually forcing Britain and the United States into a compromise.” PATRIOT ARMY IN JUGOSLAVIA STEADY INCREASE IN NUMBERS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, May 9. The representative of Jugoslavia at the All Slav Conference, reported by the Moscow radio, said the People's Liberation Army in Jugoslavia was steadily increasing in numbers and all enemy attempts to annihilate it had failed. During the fourth German attempt in two months’ fighting the enemy lost 22,000 officers and men. The Bulgarian representative said the Bulgarians were starving because the Germans were taking away all foodstuffs. Because of the decline in German manpower the Germans wanted to force Bulgarians to fight against the Soviet, but the Bulgarians would not do so. The commander of a Soviet partisan formation operating in White Russia said the partisans there had wiped out several’tens of thousands of Germans, had killed 13 enemy generals, derailed military trains, blown up more than 900 bridges, destroyed on aerodromes 305 aeroplanes, and destroyed or captured 250 tanks. COMPULSORY SERVICE IN UKRAINE (Roc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. The Berlin radio has announced that general compulsory labour service has been decreed in the Ukraine for males and females born in the years 1922 to 1926. inclusive. Those conscripted will be employed either in the Ukraine or Germany, where they will be engaged in agriculture or industry as apprentices. Infantile Paralysis Bacillus.—The Berlin radio reports that the bacillus of infantile paralysis has been discovered at the University of Upsala, Sweden.—London, May 8.