RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

CLEARING THE KUBAN AREA NOVOROSSISK’S RECAPTURE (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 5. The Russians appear to be engaged in an all-out offensive to fling the Axis forces from the Kuban, where General Maslennikov’s forces have again advanced in the past 24 hours. According to Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, the Germans are now restricted to a diamond-shaped area about 75 miles from east to west and 50 from nortn to south. The “Times’s” Stockholm correspondent says the position cf Novorossisk is becoming precarious. The tone of the German announcements suggests they are preparing German minds for possible abandonment, "m order to shorten and strengthen the lines.” . The Germans admit that the Russians have recaptured the Novorossisk radio station (the position of which is not stated, but it is believed to be on the outskirts of the city). Other Berlin reports refer to further Russian landings on both sides of Novorossisk Bay. Certainly, the position of the city has become more critical since General Maslennikov's strong advance against Krymskaya Junction and the' farther westward descent from Anastasevskaya towards the Kuban, which threatens to cut the Axis bridgehead in two. The German News Agency referred to Russian mass attacks on the south-eastern part of the bridgehead in which the Russians, for the first time in this sector, employed tanks. The Berlin radio’s commentator, Capt. Sertorius, said: “These Soviet operations can hardly be regarded as of: mere local importance.” Reports from other fronts indicate the heaviest fighting is still on the Donetz south of Isyum and around Byelgorod. The Luftwaffe are making as many as one hundred sorties, as' a preliminary to the infantry attacks. j , xl , ~ The Berlin radio reported that the Germans at Staraya Russa carried out a successful withdrawal to new positions, “in order to shorten the The Moscow radio said the Luftwaffe in the past two days twice attempted mass raids against the Rostov area. Russian fighters and flak dispersed the enemy planes, 35 of which were shot down for the loss of 10 Russian machines. London observers regard these German air assaults as a prelude to a new German drive into the Caucasus through Rostov.

Reports of strong German concentrations in the lower Donetz Basin west of Rostov suggest Hitler intends making another bid for the Caucasian oilfields. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent, expressing the view that both sides are preparing for a clash, says that whereas in previous years it had been a question of where the next German blow would fall, the Russian people this year feel confident enough to ask where the Red Army will strike next.

To-day’s Soviet communique reports a "new German attack on the Russian bridgehead at Izyum. The Russians threw tanks into action and the attack was repelled. The Germans attacked a Russian outpost in the Byelgorod area. The Russians counter-attacked and drove the Germans back. Only local engagements are reported from the Smolensk front.

A further Russian advance is reported from the Kuban, where men of the Red Army have occupied a favourable position. A Russian advance resulted in street fighting in the outskirts of a town.

RUSSIAN GAIN

(Recd. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON. April a. Reuter's Stockholm correspondent reports that after a battle raging since Friday, the Russians captured Bakansk on the main Kuban railway, twelve miles from Novorossisk.

HEAD OF BRITISH MISSION

RUGBY, April 5

General Martel arrived at Moscow this morning to succeed Admiral Miles as the head of the British Military Mission there.