SEBASTOPOL RETAKEN

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1944, Page 5

SEBASTOPOL RETAKEN

BY THE RUSSIANS • — ’Control of Black Sea Gained '4 [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.l LONDON, May 9. M. Stalis in an order of the day addressed to . Generals Vassilevsky «. and Tolbukhin, announced the capture of Sebastopol and the complete liberation of the Crimea, stating:— Troops of the Fourth Ukrainian Front, supported by massed blows from the air force and artillery, several hours ago carried by assault the fortress town of Sebastopol, the most important military and naval base on the Black Sea. The Russians, after three days of offensive fight- ' ing broke the strongly fortified German defences constructed over a < long period and comprising three lines of reinforced concrete defence works, and thus liquidated the last centre of German resistance in the Crimea, which is now completely freed of the German invader.” A Moscow communique, referring to Sebastopol, said: One Soviet Guards formation last night, after stubborn fighting, completely cleared the enemy from the northern shores of the northern bay, then they placed sixty guns around the shore, and, firing at close range, destroyed enemy vessels in northern and southern bays. Red Army infantry and tanks, supported by planes and artillery, simultaneously stormed the inner ring of Sebastopol, and broke through the | last German iron and concrete fortification line at immediate approaches of the town. Russian forces, after fierce engagements, completely rout- • ed the enemy, and liberated the whole of Sebastopol. The Germans suffered . enormous losses in manpower and equipment. ADVANTAGES OF RECAPTURE

(Rec. 10.20) ' LONDON, May 9. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports: Guns in Moscow greeting the capture of Sebastopol and liberation of Crimea, roared for nine minutes. After this Moscow radio broadcast a new Russian National Anthem. It was sung by a choir. The Russian recapture of Sebastopol occupied only three weeks, whereas when Russians were garrisoning Sebastopol, despite bitter hardships, they held out for eight months until July, 1942. The Russians now control all the great eastern and northern ports of the Black Sea. Red Air Force bombers will be able to strike easily against Rumanian ports and supply bases, which are less than two hundred miles away. The Red Fleet will have an additional base from which to operate against the Rumanian coast. A Russian air communique stated that Russian planes attacked shipping at Sebastopol, and set hie to transport, military stores, landing points; and also blew up a number of ships and motor torpedo-boats in the open sea, and sank two enemy transports totalling seven thousand tons. Long-range bombers at night successfully attacked an Esthonian railway junction. The Red Fleet air arm attacked the Finnish port of Kotka, and sank a transport and two cutters, and damaged quays. Russia’s Plans FOR CARPATHIAN FRONTS. (Rec. 12.2.) LONDON. May 10. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says: Within the twenty-four hours after the fall of Sebastopol, armies of Russian engineers and sappers were working in that great base preparing for new drives westward. It is expected in Moscow that Sebastopol's great harbour —one of the finest in Europe, and a belt of airfields around the city, will become a springboard for new Soviet offensives. The fall of Sebastopol bares the Roumanian coastline a little over two hundred miles across tne Black Sea to attack from the air and from the sea. Speculation is rife in Moscow whether a seaborne invasion may be attempted behind the GermanRoumanian lines, while the Red Army resumes a land offensive against Roumania. The city’s ' fall is hailed in Moscow as one of the major victories of the war. Last night was Moscow’s noisiest one since the raising of the siege of Leningrad. Moscow “Pravda' in a leading article, says: “Roumania learns of Sebastopol’s fall with terror, for it spells the approach of an hour of retribution. The city’s fall heralds fresh blows.” Reuter’s Moscow correspondent reports: Berlin thusfar has not admitted the fall of Sebastopol. The German overseas military commentator states: “The fighting for Sebastopol has thusfar brought no decisive change in the general position on the eastern front. • The commentator adds: There is a German strategical air offensive against the Russian lines of communication. This is the main feature on the southern front. The Luftwaffe has for fourteen days been bombing Russian preparations for new attacks. The Vichy radio says that Berlin’s eyes are now on the Lwow-Galatz Gap, which will probably be the Russian’s next objective.