FIGHTING IN KUBAN

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

FIGHTING IN KUBAN

RUSSIAN PRESSURE MAINTAINED HEAVY SHELLING OF GERMAN DEFENCES (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. The Russians in the Kuban are smashing against the second German defence line covering NovorossusK. For the last 36 hours their artillery has been blasting a way for the infantry. The guns have destroyed dozens more enemy strongpoints and silenced batteries. A Soviet communique reports the destruction or damaging of 930 German aeroplanes in the last week. Hussian losses in the same period were 235. “The Russians in the Kuban, northeast of Novorossiisk, continued to-day to fight to destroy the enemy's fortifications,” says the communique. “Our units repelled all German counterattacks and inflicted considerable losses. One of our naval units m the Black Sea sank an enemy transport carrying troops.” , ~ „ The Berlin radio reports that the Russians attempted to carry out a large-scale landing behind the Germans in the Sea of Azov area. It claims that 21 Russian ferry boats were sunk and 16 others heavily damaged. The Moscow correspondent of, ine Times.” describing the Kuban battle, rays: “Russian guns were active for_4B hours, breaking down strongly fortified German defences north-east of Novorossiisk, which the Russians reached yesterday. German counter-attacks are strenuous and frequent, but the Red Army infantry is steadily progressing under powerful artillery and air support, the latter being on the biggest scale of the Russian war. “All Russian accounts of the Kuban fighting stress the German determination to hold on to their bridgehead at all costs. The Germans are bringing up reserves to many bases, while crowded airfields suggest an early attack.” The Moscow correspondent of the Associated Press of America says: “The air war over the Kuban has reached its highest pitch. The Russian air force has destroyed more than 500 aeroplanes in the last four days, many on Germanheld airfields behind the front. German and Rumanian reserves being hurried to the front are receiving a merciless pounding from Stormoviks and bombers. Fighter aeroplanes are mowing down German infantry in sudden swoops.” RUSSIANS BOMB RAIL CENTRES (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. A special communique issued in Moscow says that the Red Air Force on Saturday bombed the railway stations of Bryansk, Poltava, Kirovgrad, Byelgorod, Dorogobuzh, Uspenskaya, and other towns. Trains were also bombed. Many locomotives, trains, and trucks loaded with munitions and supplies were smashed, and station buildings were demolished. It is reported from Stockholm that 30 Russian aeroplanes bombed Kotka on Thursday night for more than an hour. Kotka is one of the main German supply points for southern Finland. CO OPERATION WITH RUSSIA U.S. CHURCH LEADERS’ STATEMENT (Rec. 9.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 10. A statement signed by 32 Protestant leaders has been issued, urging the support of American and Russian co-operation within the framework of the United Nations, “which is essential for winning the war,” The statement says‘‘tbat disagreement on religious and. democratic issues must not obscure this cardinal point.

The statement adds that there are signs of Russian officials showing a more liberal attitude towards religion. This trend is more likely to continue if American churchmen are wilh'ng to approach the Russians with a friendly instead of a hostile or negative attitude. SPECIAL POLISH DIVISION FORMATION IN RUSSIA tßec. 6 p.tn.) LONDON, May 9. The Moscow radio has announced that the Council of People’s Commissars has the application of Polish patriots in the Soviet Union to form a Polish division for the joint struggle with the Red Army against the German invaders. The formation of the division under the name of the Kosciusko Division has already begun. The formation of the Kosciusko Division has long been the urgenlt demand of Wanda Wasilevska, the Polish author and one. of the severest critics of the policy of certain members of the Polish Government in London. Wasilevska, speaking at the All Slav Conference, which was broadcast by the Moscow radio, said: “The Polish divisions now being formed in Russia will fight their way back to Poland under the colours of Poland.” The commander of the Kosciusko Division also spoke. He said: “The Poles in Russia and the whole Polish people understand that the path of liberty is not cut by standing at ease but by military deeds. The path to our native land leads through the battlefields. Along with Russia we Poles are taking that path.” WITHDRAWAL IX BURMA BRITISH MOVE FROM BUTHIDAUNG (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. British troops on the Arakan front in Burma have had to withdraw following the cutting by the Japanese of the road west of Buthidaung. A joint communique from New Delhi announced that our troops on«the Arakan front moved north and west from Buthidaung without interference. The Japanese claim to have occupied Buthidaung, but this is not confirmed. Malaria has broken out on the Arakan front and is giving our troops trouble, says the Exchange Telegraph Agency’s New Delhi correspondent. The area is notorious for malaria, which is rampant annually between March and November. Military doctors are doing their utmost ,to combat the disease. A United States communique states that Liberators dropped 15 tons of bombs on the railway yards at Rangoon causing heavy damage and large fires. They also bombed and destroyed railway bridges. Dutch Submarine’s Success.—The Netherlands Admiralty has announced that a Dutch submarine operating with the Royal Navy has sunk a Japanese supply ship of 7500 tons in the Malacca Strait.—B.O.W., Rugby, May