NOVOROSSIISK AND OREL

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23946, 13 May 1943, Page 5

NOVOROSSIISK AND OREL

Soviet Pressure HINTS OF EARLY OFFENSIVES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. May 11. Russian guns are pounding the German defences before Novorossiisk, and Russian bombers are hammering a key area of the German salient in the Orel sector. Other than this, there is little news from the Russian front, but there are many hints of early offensives. The Moscow correspondent of "The Times” says; “Novorossiisk was previously the Soviet’s greatest cement-pro-ducing centre, and the Germans have clearly spent the winter establishing a very tough fortification system. Russian guns are ceaselessly hammering the defence line, which has been reached and penetrated in some places,” Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports that a Russian offensive in the Orel sector can be expected any day. Red Air Force bombers Appear to be softening up the sector for land attacks. The Russians are also constantly battering the four main railways leading to Orel. The Germans, he says, must be relying on partially crippled rail communications or are already completely cut off. The “Daily Express” correspondent in Persia says: “Russia is about to launch her greatest offensive. It may not be launched where the Germans expect it, but it will certainly come, and quickly.” A Red Army officer in Teheran, he says, told him; “Yours is a splendid victory in Africa, but the spotlight will soon swing back to the Red Army.” . The latest Moscow reports nave stated that the Russians expect the Germans to make the first summer move, but London observers believe these reports are part of a Russian war of nerves to keep the Germans guessing about the Red Army’s plans. A Soviet communique says: “On Tuesday, north-east of Novorossiisk. our artillery and aerial attacks continued to demolish enemy fortifications, During the day 35 enemy aeroplanes were shot down in combat, while 21 were brought down by antiaircraft batteries. Our losses were 11. In other sectors nothing of importance occurred.” . . , .. The Red Army has penetrated the new enemy defence line at Novorossiisk which it reached a few days ago, says a message from Moscow. The line consists of forro-concrcte blockhouses and trenches with concrete parapets, which can be reduced only bv concentrated bombing and shelling, which accounts for the slowness of the advance. The Germans built Ibe foitifications behind a deep rone of field works and minefields, which are now mostly in Russian hands. On Monday the Gormans counter-attacked with renewed violence, supported by a strong air umbrella. On one sector, the Russians successfully withstood rune bombings, and captured an important height.

SITUATION OX MARTINIQUE

DETACHMENT SENT TO DOMINICA BRIDGETOWN (Barbados) May 11. It is officially announced that a detachment of the Barbados battalion a, the South Caribbean Force has om-

barked lor the island of Dominica m connexion with the Martinique situat.on. ... . . 1 Dominica is a British possession in the Lesser Antilles, about 80 miles from Martinique.]

RAIDS OX EAST AXGLIA

GERMANS USE SMALL BOMBER FORCES ißec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, May 12. East Anglia has been raided by the Germans five times in the last few days. They are not risking many aircraft, and the two shot down last night represent a high ratio to the total force sent over. Focke Wulf 190’s flew low over an East Anglian coast town in daylight. Some people were killed in this raid, and debris is still being searched. German sneak raiders on Monday night bombed an East Anglia town, stated by the Berlin radio to be Great Yarmouth. A bomb hit a building containing Auxiliary Territorial Service girls. At least 11 bodies have been recovered and a search is continuing for others who are believed to be under the debris. The raiders machinegunned the streets. They hit a bus full of workers and injured several. Many houses were damaged and a number of people killed. Mustangs intercepted the raiders, destroyed one, and damaged others. A second raider was destroyed by antiaircraft fire. The Berlin radio says that heavy bombs caused great havoc and many fires.

R.A.F. SWEEPS OVER CHANNEL

(Roc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. The return of belter weather over the Straits of Dover has resulted in the Royal Air Force resuming its systematic daylight attacks over enemy territory. In a sweep over the Channel yesterday at least one Focke Wulf 190 was shot down. Enemy guns on the French Coast were active and shelled British coastal areas. The Air Ministry says: "This morning aircraft of the Coastal Command destroyed an enemy aeroplane off the Dutch coast. During the day Fighter Command aircraft carried out sweeps. Other fighters and aircraft of the Army Co-operation Command flew a number of offensive patrols over the Channel and the coast of France. An enemy fighter was destroyed and an enemy ship and several locomotives were damaged. One of our aircraft is missing. Mechanised Cultivation.—To meet the situation caused by the destruction of draught stock in occupied Europe, the British Minister of Agriculture is making provision for the training of Allied nationals in mechanised cultivation, Those instructed will act as instructors to farmers of their own countries when they are liberated.—Rugby, May 11.