DNIESTER ATTACKS

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1944, Page 5

DNIESTER ATTACKS

BY THE GERMANS Repulsed with Severe Losses NEAR TIRASPOL. 1 lAus & N.Z. Press Assn.]' [Aus '_ & LONDON, May 11. A Soviet communique states: Russian troops at a bridgehead/on the right bank of the Dniester, southwest of Tiraspol, were engaged in repelling attacks by the Germans on’ Thursday. The attacks were launched with great forces of infantry and« tanks. The enemy suffered heavy losses. There were no material changes in other sectors of the front. RUSSIANS HOLD CROSSING. (Reec. 10.50.) LONDON, May 12. A Russian supplementary communique states: A considerable enemy force . north-west .-.f Tyraspol tried to beat back the Russian forces from the west bank of the River Dniester to the east bank. Red Army artillery thinned out the German ranks’. Soviet guard units also repelled the enemy, burned and destroy--ed sixty tanks. A regiment of German infantry was wiped out. GERMAN SHIP BOMBED. (Rec. 10.50.) LONDON, May 12. A Soviet communique stated that a Red Air Force torpedo-carrying ’plane scored a direct hit on a 7,000ton German transport off the north Norwegian coast, causing explosions and setting fire to the ship. RUSSIAN WAR LOAN. (Rec. 10.50.) LONDON. May 12. Moscow radio announced that the third Russian State war loan, which was fixed at twenty-five thousand million roubles, has been over-suo-scribed by three thousand million roubles. NEW BLACK SEA BASE.

GERMANS TRANSFER TO VARNA.

(Rec. 10.50.) LONDON, May 12. Admiral Reader has arrived at Varna, In Roumania, to supervise a transfer of German ships, and submarines from Constanta and other Roumanian ports. The Germans Black Sea naval headquarters has already been moved to Varna, whicn now becomes the enemy’s Black Sea base. - BULGARIAN MOBILISATION. LONDON, May 11. A British United Press correspondent at Berne (Switzerland) said: Diplomatic sources in Berne report that the Bulgarian Premier (Boshiloy) has decreed ordering the mobilisation of seven divisions which 'were released in March for labour purposes. This means total mobilisation, because Bulgaria’s nine other divisions are al'readv mobilised. The decree was issued last night after a stormy session of Cabinet. It is regarded as an effort to counter balance the Germans, who moved in six divisions this week, making a total of 10 German divisions in Bulgaria. GERMANS IN CRIMEA.

STILL 20.000

LONDON, May 11

The Stockholm correspondent of the “Dally Mail” says: A German military commentator admitted to-night .that one Roumanian and one German division were still in the Crimea. It is estimated here that the two divisioss comprise about 20,000 men, who are probably trapped, adds the correspondent. The commentator also referred to big battles between German, troops and Russian guerrillas south of Polotsk, in which the Germans, in the course of three weeks’ fighting destroyed 102 guerrilla camps, 180 tanks, 82 strong points and killed over 6000 guerrillas. Another report stated: Russian squads are still clearing the German dead from the ruins of Sebastopol. The reconstruction of Sebastopol began as soon as the last German lefts Russian architects began to work on plans for Sebastonol’s reconstruction long before the Russian assault against the Crimea was launched. Sebastopol was evidently taken after a tremendously heavy artillery bombardment which reduced the city to complete ruin and enabled the attackers to overwhelm the garrison in an unexpectedly short time. Tolbukin’s army will not be released for a summer campaign in the south. iGERMAN .COMMANDS. LONDON. May 11. There appears to be no doubt that von Manstein has definitely been relieved of his command on the southern sector of the eastern front. In his place General Schoerner commands the Black Sea' group comprising the sixth and eighth armies, while Field Marshal Model commands the first and fourth panzer armies, and /the Hungarian troops in the Carpathians. Model was moved from the northern group for this purpose and has been replaced by General Lindemann. Field Marshal Busch still commands the middle group armies. Field Marshal Kleist also seems to have disappeared from the southern theatre. SUPPLIES FROM (BRITAIN. LONDCtN, May 10. The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill) to-day gave the House of Commons figures showing British and Empire aid to Russia. Between October 1, 1941, and March 31 of this year, 5031 tanks had been sent, of which 1223 came from Canada. A total of 6778 aircraft had been sent, and war supplies, foodstuffs, and other materials to a value of £80,000,000 had also been sent to Russia. Most of the war materials came from the Empire, said Mr. Churchill.