PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23945, 12 May 1943, Page 3

PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE

GROWING SOVIET STRENGTH “BOTH SIDES READY FOR GREAT OPERATIONS” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. May 10. The Berlin radio commentator, Captain Sertorius, declares that both the Germans and Russians are ready for operations on a grand scale. He adds that the Soviet has augmented the number of Guards divisions and has taken particular care to build up special formations, mostly of artillery. The Soviet Air Force, he adds, has grown considerably in recent months, and air attacks against German supply lines merit attention. A special Soviet communique says: “Our air force on Sunday dealt a powerful blow against the important railway junction of Bryansk. Our aeroplanes bombed trains between Byelgorod and Kharkov, Lozovaya and Kramatorskaya, Orel and Glazunovka, Mtsensk and Orel. Vitebsk and Novo Sokolniki, and other railway lines. Many trains and lorries carrying troops and supplies were destroyed. Our aeroplanes also successfully bombed a number of aerodromes.” The ordinary Soviet communique says: “Strong artillery fire took place in the Kuban area and north-east of Novorossiisk on Monday. Our air force dealt heavy blows to enemy troops.” A supplement records activity west of Rostov, on the Volkhov front, and in the area of Lisitichansk, where two enemy infantry battalions, supported by 15 tanks, attacked Soviet positions. Red Army troops retreated slightly, then dealt a blow from the. flank and compelled the enemy to retreat to his former positions. Nine German tanks were destroyed or damaged, and 300 Germans were killed. On another sector of the same front Soviet troops repelled four German counter-attacks. The Moscow radio says that about 200 enemy aeroplanes on Sunday attempted to bomb the Rostov-Bataisk area. The enemy force was dispersed by anti-aircraft guns and Soviet fighters, and only a few German aeroplanes broke through. They dropped bombs at random, and no military or industrial targets were damaged. Fortythree German aeroplanes were destroyed. The Russians lost seven aeroplanes. On Monday 40 German aeroplanes attempted to raid the railway station of Shchigry. Only three to four aeroplanes got through. They dropped several bombs, which demolished 13 railway waggons carrying scrap iron. Eleven German aeroplanes were shot down, while the Soviet Air Force suffered no loss.

BURMA FRONT

RAIDS ON JAPANESE RIVER TRANSPORT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, May 10. An Indian joint communique says: “On the Arakan front yesterday there was no contact with the enemy in the sector east of the Mayu river. Operations in the coastal area and south of Maungdaw have been confined to patrol activity on both sides. “In the Upper Chindwin area, our patrols continue to be active along both banks of the river. “Yesterday Royal Air Force fighter patrols did considerable damage to Japanese river transport on the Mayu river, from Buthidaung downwards. Five sampans were sunk and a petrol barge blown up near Buthidaung. Four sampans wfere sunk below Rathedaung and damaging attacks were made on another barge. A group of Beaufightcrs made several attacks on oil installations, and set a petrol tank on fire. Patrolling fighters shot up a river steamer and a big oil barge. “Yesterday afternoon Blenheims attacked a bridge a few miles north of Kalemno. Hits were observed at the western end of- the bridge, and also on a Japanese machine-gun post. Another formation bombed a jetty. Last night bombs were dropped on Akyab. All our aircraft returned.” A communique quoted in a New Delhi message says that American heavy bombers without loss yesterday successfully attacked railway targets and enemy barracks at Maymyo, and also two places south of Mandalay.

N.Z. FIGHTER * SQUADRON

PILOTS NOW FLYING TYPHOONS (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Ecc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. The Air Ministry now permits it to be slated that the 2nd New Zealand Fighter Squadron is equipped with Typhoons, which are among the fastest and heaviest-armed single-engined fighters in the world. The Typhoon was designed by Sydney Camm, designer of the Hurricane. It is powered by a Napier Sabre 24-cylinder 2400 horse-power engine, which is liquidcooled. The Typhoon’s speed is more than 400 miles an hour. It is heavily armed, carrying four cannon. This is the squadron which at first flew Hurricanes as night fighters, and after being equipped with Typhoons shot down seven Germans in the week before Christmas. Squadron Leader Desmond J. Scott, D.F.C. and Bar, of Hokitika, was recently appointed commanding officer. The squadron has built up an excellent reputation. It has now shot down 16j Germans—two more were recently added by Pilot Officers F. Murphy, of Wellington, and A. H. Smith, of Auckland—and has carried out many attacks against German shipping in the English Channel, including 17 last month. Most of its Germans were shot down while they were tip-and-run raiding over south coast towns, but the two Messerschmitt 109's bagged by Pilot Officers Murphy and Smith are believed to have been on reconnaissance. They chased the Germans for 20 miles almost at sea level. Pilot Officer Murphy's reflector sight went out after he had fired his first burst, but he was flying so low that he continued firing, judging his aim by following the tracks of the bullets on the water. He used up all his ammunition. Eventually the German burst into flames and went into the sea.' Pilot Officer Smith made shorter work of his Messerschmitt, there being no complications. This was Pilot Officer Murhpy’s fourth victory for his squadron. He now' leads the squadron’s scoreboard. Squadron Leader Scott recently led his squadron against a 4000-ton enemy freighter and two flak-ships in Le Havre harbour. Others participating were Flight Lieutenants A. E. Umbers and H. N. Sweetman, Flying Officer J. H McCaw, Pilot Officers Smith, R. J. Dali, and C. N. Gall; Flight Sergeants W B. Tyerman, M. O. Jorgensen. D. Bennett, and N. E. Preston, and Sergeant R. H. Fitzgibbon. They made several attacks against the freighter, causing a fire and a large explosion. Section Officer Margaret Sims, of Christchurch, has the distinction of being the only New Zealand W.A.A.F. on the station. Newcomers to the squadron are FMng Officer A. J. Woodgatc, of Oamaru, and Flight Sergeants B. C. Thompson, of Dannevirke. and H. C. Saywell. of Hamilton, all of whom w'ere at Sierra Leone for nine months, flying Hurricanes, and watching the activities of Vichy supporters. Much more will be heard of this New Zealand Typhoon squadron, whose record has already won praise from Air ViceMarshal H. W. L. Saunders, commander of the No. 11 Group.

Exchange of Prisoners.—Another exchange of British and Italian prisoners has been completed at Smyrna. Fourhundred sick and wounded Italian soldiers and 1200 protected personnel were exchanged for 100 sick and wounded British soldiers and 300 protected personnel.—London, May 10.