RUSSIAN FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1943, Page 1

RUSSIAN FRONTS

INDICATIONS OF COMING OFFENSIVES. LONDON, May 16. ..The establishment and consolidation' 'of a strong Russian bridgehead on 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 attack near Lisichansk, the Germans occupied all the commanding heights on the south bank of the Donetz, where they, were able to build up powerful defence. The Russians, after crossing the river seized a village on a hill slope and a brisk battle followed a German attempt to restore the positions, the Russians knocking out many tanks with artillery. . There are indications-that the Germans 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 defeat. reports the British United Press Moscow correspondent. The first German group from this force landed b.Y boat, but "was dispersed and routed. The Russian artillery caught, the second group in midstream and sank twelve boats. More than 209 Germans were killed and drowned. Another correspondent reports that a stranee kind of warfare is going on in the "Kuban. battles being fought from small shins in river channels, also among tall reeds on the river banks. The Russians recently seized and continue to hold the principal river high wav through the region. North-east of Novorossisk the tiehting has split up into several battles between small groups attempting to canture the hilltops. Reuter’s Moscow representative says powerful Russian air sweens against troops, aerodromes and rail junctions continue with grow'ng momentum of the “spring offensive.’ Centres such as Briansk. Gomel and Orel in the nast two days have received the attention of Russian lona-raim-e guns, which have wrecked dozens of loaded trains and caused large fires and explosives.