SOVIET SPRINGBOARD

Evening Star, Issue 25172, 11 May 1944, Page 5

SOVIET SPRINGBOARD

SEBASTOPOL BASE FOR NEW DRIVES RUMANIA'S RETRIBUTION NEAR LONDON, May 10. " "Within 24 hours after the fall* of Sebastopol, armies of Russian engineers and sappers are working on, a great base preparing for new drives to the west," says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. "It is expected in Moscow that Sebastopol's great harbour—one of the finest in Europe—and belt of airfields around the city. Will become the springboard for new Soviet offensives. " The fall of Sebastopol bares the \ Rumanian coast line, a little over 200 , miles across'the Black Sea, to attack from the air and from the sea. Speculation is rife in Moscow whether a sear bor<ne invasion may, be attempted hehind the German and Rumanian lines while the Red army resumes the laud offensive against Rumania." The city's fall was hailed in Moscow as one of the major victories of tho war. Last night was Moscow's noisiest since the raising of the siege of Leningrad. .■■•-■ The newspaper ' Pravda,' in a leader. • says: "Rumania learns of Sebastopol's fall with terror, for it spells the approach of the hour of retribution. The city's fall heralds fresh blows." Reuter's Moscow correspondent reports that Berlin so far has not admitted the fall of Sebastopol. The German Overseas Agency states: " The fighting for Sebastopol so far has ibrought no decisive change in ' 'the general position on the eastern front. The German strategical air offensive against the Russian lines of communication is the main" feature of the southern front. The Luftwaffe for 14 days has been bombing the Russian preparations for new attacks." The Vichy radio says: " Berlin's eyes .are now on the' Lwow-Galatz gap, which is probably the Russians' next objective." Red air force bombers will be able to strike easily against Rumanian ports and supply bases less than 200 miles away, and the Red fleet will have an additional base from which ,to operate against the Rumanian coast. Reuter's Moscow correspondent reported that the guns of Moscow greeting the capture of Sebastopol and the liberation of the Crimea roared for nine minutes, after which Moscow radio broadcast the new Russian National Anthem, sung by a choir.