RUSSIAN FRONTS

Grey River Argus, 28 June 1943, Page 5

RUSSIAN FRONTS

LULL CONTINUES Soviet Air Activity Kept Up [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, June 25. The world still is awaiting an eruption on the Eastern front. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Russian air offensive has been maintained practically daily since June 9, and the damage to German aircraft is considerable. They .also have made attacks on German first and second line ’dromes. The correspondent added: Lieut. Col. Denisov, Russian air expert, points out, firstly, the Germans in the Kuban during May failed to attain air supremacy, and lost three-quarters of their operating fighter squadrons. Secondly, the Germans are having exceptionally heavy losses in massed raids. Lt. Col. Denisov attributes the Germans’ heavy losses to the fact that the Red Air Force .is stronger and the quality of Russian, fighters has improved. He added that the Focke Wulf 190 was countered by large numbers of Yak 7’s and Lavochkin s’s, which new Russian fighter is now being mass-pro-duced. “With Spitfires and Airacobras, they are unquestionably superior to the German fighters. Lt. Coh Denisov revealed that 112 attack ’planes had been perfected and the Tupolev Two had been added to the Russian bomber force. “The Germans, on the other hand, are still flying their old machines. Their attempts to modify the J.U. 87 by fitting two cannons, using it for attack, have not produced significant improvement. Our smashing up of many aerodromes compelled the Germans to avoid concentrating large numbers of ’planes in .any single district. They now form raiding forces in the air during the flight to the target. Also, our strong fighter force simply does not allow the Germans to appear in small.groups, thus the massing of air forces, which the Germans are employing, must be regarded as arising from necessity rather than choice,” (Rec. 7.10) LONDON. June 26. A Russian communique on Saturday night stated nothing important has occurred on the front line. In the Finnish Gulf, Soviet airmen sank an enemy patrol vessel and damaged a trawler. On Friday night longrange Soviet aircraft raided a railway junction at Briansk, a station at Anblya, and enemy aerodromes. Great fires broke out at the railway junction at Briansk. Many planes were destroyed on the enemy aerodromes. Two Soviet olanes did not return. Berlin radio stated: Russian forces made local breaches in the German main defence line south-east of Orel, north of Orel, a'nd west of Velikiye Luki. Berlin radio claimed . that counter-attacks restored the positions. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: A Russian air offensive against German-held aerodromes reached a peak last week with hundreds of bombers out every night except Thursday. Of the last eighteen davs, only six have been without major attacks against enemy airfields. He' adds: At a most conservative estimate, five hundred German planes have been destroyed on the ground as a result of consistent blasting. RUSSIAN CONFIDENCE. M. STALIN’S MESSAGES. (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. M. Stalin, in his reply to President Roosevelt, Generals Giraud and He Gaulle, broadcast over the Moscow radio thanking them for their message of congratulation to the Rea Army on its two years of struggle. He emphasised the importance he placed on a second front. r lo Mr. Roosevelt he said: “As a result of the Soviet Union’s two years struggle and serious blows that the Allies have inflicted on the Italian and German Armies in North Africa, conditions have been created for final detect ot the common enemy. I have no doubt will icome—the sooner we strike our joint blows against the enemy from east and west. To Generals Giraud and De Gaulle he said: “The Russians are confident that the Allies’ joint effort will terminate in complete and final vicPresident Kalinin, in a similar message to Dr. Benes brought out the same point, saying : “I share, your full confidence that the United Na tions’ joint active efforts will lead to victory.” - Moscow radio, quoting a Russian journalist, M. Yaroslavsky, said Russian tank production had increased thirty-eight per cent, since last year. Hundred of factories working behind the lines were turning out ever growing quantities of arms and equipment. Russian rail and river transport since the outbreak had successfully copea with the transfer of millions of people and vital industries to eastern areas of Russia. New railway lines and canals had been built to facilitate gigantic traffic m troops ana arms to the front. (R.=c 9 50) LONDON, June 27. The German High Command, in a communique, says: German an Roumanian forces carried out successful. storm troop operations at various points on the Russian front, We repelled several Soviet attacks in the Orel sector. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says: The United States . Ambassador, Admiral Standley, paid a tribute to Russian, British and American co-operation. He expressed the opinion that co-operation had reached a maximum effort. He said: It must not cease with the defeat ot Germany, but must be continued until the defeat, of Japan, and must be maintained after the war.” STALINGRAD’S RESTORATION (Rec. 11.30) LONDON, June 27. , Moscow radio says that Soviet architects are planning to make a new Stalingrad, a “city of victory. The Union of Architects in Moscow is arranging an exhibition and a discussion of plans submitted for the restoration of the city. SERB MILITARY LEADER , STILL IN THE FIELD. (Rec. 11.5) LONDON, June 26.Information reaching authoritative Yugoslav circles in Cairo affirms that General Mikhailovitch is safe with his men and is carrying on the fight. This refutes the Axis assertions that General Mikhailovitch following on the defeat of his forces in the mountains of Montenegro, fled the country.