RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN

Caucasus Front RUSSIAN ADVANCE NOVOROSSISK THREATENED [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, April 5. A Russian advance is reported from the Kuban, where men 1 of the Red Army have occupied a favourable position. A Russian advance resulted in street fighting in the outskirts of a town. 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. The Russians appear to be engaged in an all-out offensive to Hing 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 north to south “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says the position of Novorossisk is becoming precarious. The tone of the German announcements suggest'; they are preparing German minds for possible abandonment “in order to shorten and strengthen the lines.” The Germans admit that the Russians have recaptured the Novorossisk radio station (the position of whicn 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, Captain Sertorius said: “These Soviet operations can hardly be regarded as of mere local importance.”

Upper Donetz Front NEW ENEMY ATTACKS LONDON, April 5. Reports from Russian fronts indicate the heaviest fighting is still on the Donetz south of Izyum and around Byelgorod. The Luftwaffe are making as many as one hundred sorties, as a preliminary to the infantry attacks. Monday’s Soviet communique recorded a new German attack on the Russian bridgehead at Izyum. T'he Russians threw tanks into action and the attack, was repelled. The Germans attacked a Russian oulpost in the Byelgorod area. The Russians counter-attacked and drove the Germans back. The Russian communique on Monday night stated: No important changes took place on the front today. Moscow radio, however, stated: — Soviet troops south of Izyum are heroically repelling, enemy attacks. On various sectors fighting is often hand-to-hand. In one sector, after 40 minutes’ fierce artillery shelling and bombardment from German planes, German tanks launched a fierce attack. They ' were met by powerful artillery fire. The Russian artillery destroyed three tanks on the far approaches to the Russian position and the attacks failed. Further German attacks launched in the same sector' were beaten off. The enemy left several hundred dead officers and men and several wrecked tanks. Lower Donetz Front GERMANS PREPARE TO ATTACK "LONDON, April 5. There are reports of strong German concentrations in the Lower Donetz Basin west of Rostov. These suggest Hitler intends making another bid for the Caucasian oilfields. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent expresses the view that both sides are •preparing for a clash. He says: “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.” 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 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. OTHER FRONTS. LONDON, April 5 The Russians state that only local engagements are reported from the Smolensk front. The Berlin radio reported that the Germans at Staraya Russa carried out a successful withdrawal to new positions “in order to shorten the front.” General Martel arrived at Moscow this morning to succeed Admiral Miles as the head of the British Military Mission there. 42 German Planes Lost IN RAIDS ON LENINGRAD (Rec. 11:54) LONDON, April 6. Moscow radio stated: Forty-two German bombers were destroyed in attempts to raid Leningrad on April 3 and 4. Only single enemy planes penetrated to the city. They dropped bombs haphazardly, causing insignificant damage. Seven Russian fighters were lost.

German Atrocities SOVIET CHARGES. WHOLESALE EXTERMINATION. (Rec. 10.45.) LONDON* April 6. 1 The Moscow radio broadcast a statement from a special commission investigating German atrocities and vandalism in Soviet territory, which accuses the Nazis of ruthlessly destroying Soviet towns and villages, and of torturing, outraging and murdering peaceful citizens. The statement savs: History has known no such wholesale extermination of people. The statement mentions particularly German barbarities in the regions of Viazma, Gjatsk, and Rjev, where, it says, on orders of German Generals, Heinritz and Model, Soviet citizens, including women, children and aged people, had their eyes burnt out, and feet, hand and ears cut off. The statement cites numerous instances of citizens being shot in batches after being forced to dig their own graves. In two villages in Gjatsk district, all the inhabitants, including small children, were burnt alive. Soviet war prisoners were deliberately refused medical assistance, and some were used as targets during firing; practice. It adds: Hitler’s Army tortures and kills all those it does not want, .while those capable of working are carried away like cattle to Germany.