OFFENSIVES IN RUSSIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 May 1943, Page 5

OFFENSIVES IN RUSSIA

GERMANS ATTACK LENINGRAD

BIGGEST BLOW SINCE WINTER LONDON, May 16. The latest Moscow communique reports only local actions. North-east of Novorossisk, in the Kuban, a German counter-attack on a hill position failed. x South of Izyum, on the Donets front, Russian scouts attacked an enemy position. Artillery was active west of Rostov. X 1 . One Moscow’ report says that the Russians crossed the Donets in the Lisitchansk area, where they repulsed counter-attacks and succeeded in widening their bridgehead. A special. Soviet communique says: “On Friday night Russian long-range bombers raided the railway junction of Orel. The bombers made very strong attacks on ammunition dumps and trains hauling ammunition. In Gomel, which was also attacked, dozens of trains were in the yard. Thirty fires, followed by large explosions, were caused. Only one Soviet aeroplane failed to return. The Germans made an unsuccessful attempt to cross the Donets south oi Krasnyliman, losing 200 men.” An ’earlier report said that the Germans developed a sharp new attack on the Leningrad front. -Red Star” reported that a heavy artillery barrage in which more than 5000 rounds were hurled against the Russians, preceded the attack. Following the barrage German infantry advanced. The Russians met the attack with heavy gunfire, particularly from automatics. The first thrust cost the Germans heavy losses. They reeled back, but returned to the attack. The Germans, disregarding losses, made several additional attempts in a single day to smash up the Russian lines. “Red Star” added: “Owing to the numerical superiority of the Nazis they succeeded in breaking through to the defence works in one direction. The Russians quickly reinforced this sector and exterminated an enemy group.” . The Moscow corresponds™ ot the Associated Press expressed the view that these operations were the biggest fighting on this front since the Winter, although the numbers of men involved are not mentioned. “It is too early to say whether this is the beginning of an important German offensive, but it indicates that they have massed considerable power on the Leningrad front, and are able to strike in strength,” says the correspondent. “The fighting north-east of Novorossiisk is mostly confined to artillery exchanges. The Russians are still battering at the deep enemy fortifications. Russian infantry hold the lines captured earlier this week.

AERIAL WARFARE

“Furious air warfare continues all along the front. The Russians are relentlessly bombing, shelling, and machine-gunning railway stations, junctions and trains behind the German lines. The Germans, in spile of this air pounding, are getting much material to the front, especially to the Bryansk and Orel salient, and upwards through the central front. German troops are moving up for actions which may begin at any time. Russian guerrillas operating in the Kiev area report that the city has been evacuated by German official organisations, including Kock, the notorious Reich Commissar for the Ukraine, who has moved to Kovno. Kiev is now largely in ruins _ and practically empty as a result of deportations. It was once.one of the finest cities in Russia.”

“The Germans might attempt to deal a swift blow- in the two or more months in which Hitler may reckon he will be relatively free of the necessity of warding off an invasion from the west,” says Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow. “Recent local activity suggests that the Germans plan to launch two offensives concurrently or in swift succession, first, from the Bryansk-Orel sector to the east, and then northwards to threaten Moscow from the rear; second, through the Donets line to Rostov in an attempt to gain a hold on the western part of the North Caucasus as far south as Krasnodar, with an additional force striking towards Batum, thence across Caucasia to the Caspian to invest Baku.” The Berlin radio says that in view of big transport movements observed in the last few days the Germans hourly expect the Russians to resume their large-scale attacks in the Kuban area. The German and Rumanian forces, however, have taken all the necessary measures to repulse the enemy.

RED AERIAL RAIDS

RUGBY, May 16

A Soviet special communique reads: “Last night the Soviet Air Force raided railway junctions at Bryansk, Kremenchug, and Dnepropetrovsk. Thirty fires were started at the railhvay junction at Bryansk, the fires being followed by large explosions. At Kremenchug and Dnepropetrovsk ammunition dumps and railway trains were set afire. There the fires were also followed by explosions. One of our planes failed to return.”

RUSSIAN ACTIVITY

(Recd. 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 16. The establishment and consolidajtion of a strong Russian bridgehead lon the south bank of the Donetz near Lisichansk and reports of a Russian .crossing of the Donetz east of Liman, 'suggest the possibility of an imminent Red Army offensive against the Donbas industrial region. “The Times’s” Moscow correspondent says .that before the Russian attach near Lisichansk, the Germans occupied all the commanding heights on the south bank of the Donetz, where they were able to build up powerful defences. The Russians, after crossing the river, seized a village on a hill slope and by a brisk battle followed a German attempt to restore the positions, the Russians knocking out many tanks jiwith artillery. There are indications that the GerI mans are gathering their strength for (another big counter-attack, but the Russian Air Force is actively forestalling preparations. A large force 'of Germans who crossed to the north bank of the Donetz south of Liman in an attempt to divert the Russians from Lisichansk suffered a costly de4'eat, reports the British United Press Moscow correspondent. The first German group from this force landed by iboat, but was dispersed and routed. The Russian artillery caught the second group in midstream and sank twelve boats. More than 200 Germans were killed and drowned. Another correspondent reports that a strange kind of warfare is going on in the Kuban, battles being fought from small ships in river channels, also among tall reeds on the river banks. The Russians recently seized and continue to hold the principal (river highway through the region. North-east of Novorossisk the fighting has split up into several battles between small groups attempting to capture the hilltops.

Reuter’s Moscow representative ■says powerful Russian air sweeps against troops, aerodromes and rail .junctions continue with growing momentum of the “Spring offensive.” Centres such, as Briansk, Gomel and Orel in the past two days have received the attention of Russian longrange guns, which have wrecked dozens of loaded trains and caused large fires and explosions.