RUSSIAN FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1943, Page 2

RUSSIAN FRONTS

NOVOROSSISK DEFENCES STRONG. LONDON, May 13. There- are no signs yet that the German defences are cracking at Novorossisk, though pounded by hundreds of guns of all calibres for five days, says “The Times’s” Moscow’ correspondent. The enemy is . still counter-attacking with undiminished vigour. The Luftwaffe- brought up reserves of German planes machinegunning the advancing Russian elements. Diversionist groups are active on the marshes. They have Deen landing from small craft which they brought down the Kuban, guided by a fisherman through narrow backwaters. A heavy toll w’as taken of German vessels in'this region of amphibious warfare. It. remains to be seen whether the reverse inflicted on the Germans after the initial success near Lischansk marks the end of fighting in this region, which has been going on for some days.

SOVIET PLANES BOMB WARSAW.

RUGBY, May 13

A Soviet special communique states: “On Wednesday night, long range Soviet bombers attacked a railway junction at Warsaw. German trains with arms, ammunition dumps, and railway installations were bombed. Our bombers also attacked the Warsaw suburb of Prage. As a result of bombing, large fires and huge explosions among enemy trains and ammunition dumps were observed. All the Soviet planes returned to their bases. The Moscow radio broadcast a report of bitter fighting north-east of Ncvorossisk and in the- area of the lower regions of the Kuban. The enemy is offering fierce fire resistance attempting to stem our advance by massed air-raids, but air supremacy is in Soviet hands. On several sectors our troops pushed forward and occupied valuable position. SLAVE MARKET CHARGE. LONDON, May 13. Replying to M. Molotov’s .“slave market” charge, the Berlin radio admitted the mass conscription of Russian labour has operated since 1941.

The radio alleged that Molotov’s aim in raising the matter at this stage was to push into the background the German charges regarding the murder of the Polish officers