RUSSIAN FRONT

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23972, 12 June 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN FRONT

Greatest Activity Still In Air

GERMAN VIEW OF GROUND LULL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON. June 10. Blow and counter-blow in the air remain the chief feature of the fighting in Russia. Both sides, since the Germans on June 2 started with a mass raid on Kursk and the Russians replied with heavy air attacks against the rail junctions of Orel, Brjjansk, and Karachev, have been concentrating on doing as much damage as possible from the air to the enemy’s transport systems and supply depots. The Germans in the latest raid of this nature, against Yaroslavl, 150 miles north-east of Moscow, claim that 500 tons of bombs were dropped there, mainly on the synthetic rubber works. The Russians say that last night a group of enemy aircraft attempted to raid Yaroslavl. A few enemy aeroplanes penetrated the barrage and dropped bombs at random on dwelling houses. The fires were quickly extinguished. There were some casualties among the civilian population. Five German bombers were shot down by anti-aircraft defences and fighter aeroplanes. The Soviet Air Force suffered no losses. The Moscow radio announced that last night a large force of Soviet long-range aircraft dealt a powerful blow against five enemy aerodromes. A large number of enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged, and fires and explosions were seen in areas near enemy ammunition and fuel dumps. All the Soviet aeroplanes returned to their bases.

General Dietmar, the Berlin radio's military commentator, who 10 days ago said that Germany was unlikely to launch an offensive in Russia this summer, said to-night: ‘‘Our front has become stabilised and can be used as a spring board for an offensive as well as a barrier against attack. This has been shown by the fighting in the Kubah. Without overestimating our success here, we can regard this first battle of the season as characteristic of future possibilities. “The calm now stretching from the Sea of Azov to Leningrad is only temporary. It is based mainly on the need for rest felt by both parties, which is only natural after their great efforts. In addition, the lull is being prolonged by the desire to make, under the very best conditions, a great blow, which must come sooner or later. “Firm Base Gained"

“Repelling attempts to break through by a numerically superior enemy such as the Russians is a very difficult task. So far we have been able to deal with the problem at the expense of an almost uninterrupted offensive. The discrepancy between the men at our disposal and the area to be defended could only be counteracted by continual movement. More often than not we had to make a virtue out of bitter necessity. Now. however, the discrepancy has been wiped out by shortening the front. We have now what is urgently needed in order to continue the fight against the Soviet, a firm base. This means that operations can be carried out which otherwise would be very risky indeed." The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says that the heaviest of the recent land fighting occurred in the front-line Orel province, where violent battles were fought between partisan detachments and an enemy punitive force using a substantia] strength of infantry, tanks, and armoured cars. The guerrillas have never been cleared from the Orel and Bryansk regions, although a Hungarian expeditionary force in 1942 was very active against them. The Soviet Information Bureau reports that Russian guerrillas in the Orel region, in a battle lasting several days, wiped out more than a battalion of German infantry. The Germans threw in infantry, tanks, guns, and armoured cars, but the guerrillas smashed the Germans by surprise blows. Two other guerrilla parties routed the garrisons of two important inhabited localities, killed more than 100, and took prisoners and booty.

REHABILITATION IN EUROPE

UNITED NATIONS’ PROPOSALS U.S. SUBMITS DRAFT AGREEMENT (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 10. The United States Government has communicated to all members of the United Nations a draft agreement providing for the establishment of a body to be known as the United Nations’ Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, The draft agreement has been prepared by the United States Government, in consultation with the British Government and the Soviet and Chinese Governments, who are in agreement with the proposals. The draft will now have to be considered by the other United Nations, with a view to adoption as soon as they may be agreed. The draft agreement represents the first step in building up a United Nations’ organisation to deal with post-war problems. It is based on the principle that provision for relief and rehabilitation must be a joint effort by all the nations concerned.

The organisation suggested for these p .poses provides for due representation of all the United Nations in the framing of policy, and for an international staff under a director-general which will be responsible for executive operations. The draft agreement thus aims at creating the framework for the relief organisation. The British Government has frequently declared that its policy is to see that all possible relief is made available to the oppressed peoples of Europe on their liberation from the Nazi tyrants. The proposals of the draft agreement are therefore welcomed by the British Government, and it hopes that these proposals will be acceptable to the other United Nations, so that they can be brought into effect rapidly. . , ~. The United Nations rehabilitation plan has been described by a London commentator as the blue-print for the post-war world. The plan makes provision for the collaboration of all the United Nations, which will provide food, clothing, and supplies for the enslaved peoples as they are liberated. Germany, Italy, and Japan, said the commentator, had caused devastation and misery without parallel, but the day of liberation would not find the Allies unprepared. A conference will probably be held at Washington in August in connexion with the draft rgreement.

UNITED NATIONS’ DAY

(8.0. W.) RUGBY. June 10. United Nations’ Day will be celebrated next Monday, when the ceremony of honouring the flags will be held in London, Cardiff, tf and Edinburgh. Similar ceremonies will take place in the United States and in many parts of the Empire. In London, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force will be represented In an imposing parade, which will also include officers and men serving in the Merchant Marine, Dominion, Indian, and Home Guard forces, members of the civil defence services, and a war workers’ contingent, which will consist of both men and women.

COMINTERN DISSOLVED

LONDON, June 10. Moscow has announced that the Comintern has been dissolved.