RUSSIAN FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1943, Page 3

RUSSIAN FRONTS

Lull Continues RUSSIAN REPORTS. LONDON, April 26. The whole of the Russian front has been quiet for the past 24 hours, except for scouting operations, minor artillery duels and the usual mutual aii l attacks. Russian and German patrols everywhere are probing each other’s lines. Onlv artillery ex--changes are reported from the Kuban. A Soviet communique reported the Germans abstained from activity on this front because of heavy losses. An absence of mention of the Kuban in a new Soviet communique may be further proof of the Germans’ heavy j losses and resultant inactivity. Russian reports stated that on the Donetz front the Germans tried an infantry attack at night south of Balakleya. but were driven back, leaving 100 dead, while a three-days’ battle in the Sievsk sector northwest of Kursk ended in the repulse of Germans with the loss of at least 60 tanks, according to a message from Moscow. More than 100 tanks participated in each enemy attack. Soviet artillery held positions with a concentrated fire. The action resulted from a German attempt to nullify a slight improvement in the Soviet positions and it was described as a local engagement. The Red Air force took advantage of the suspension of ground fighting to attack more intensively aerodromes and more importixPt railway junctions in the German rear. Soviet pilots in the Baltic sank an enemy torpedo boat. A British air squadron, including many Canadians, has returned to Britain from Russia, full of enthusiasm for Russian airmen, and much impressed by the morale of the people as a whole. Each officer and airman was presented by the Soviet Government with a red enamel and gold star as a token of esteem. “They blessed us, kissed us, and begged us to return,” said one member of the squadron. The main task of the Canadian airmen was convoying shipping. “The Russians are among the world’s truly great fighters,” said one pilot. “They are not afraid of the devil himself. I saw one Russian fighter, go up and lick three Jerries without assistance.” Russian optimism is soaring as the result of failure of the German coun-ter-attacks, the Allies’ intensified bombing of German towns, and the successes in Tunisia.