AIR SUCCESSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24084, 1 October 1941, Page 7

AIR SUCCESSES

CLAIMS BY SOVIET 263 GERMANS SHOT DOWN ENEMY LOSSES ON GROUND LONDON, Sept. 30 The Russians claim that they shot down 263 enemy aeroplanes on Friday and Saturday. The Russians lost 28 machines. A supplementary Russian communique states: "On Saturday our troops inflicted heavy losses in one sector on the southern front to the 2nd and 4th Rumanian Brigades. Over 2500 enemy soldiers and officers were killed. Incomplete figures show that our troops in this fighting captured 300 soldiers, 47 guns, two tanks and many machineguns and riflos, as well as a targe quantity of ammunition. Our troops are continuing to inflict losses on the enemy in this sector. "In one sector on the north-west front our air force destroyed 47 motorcars and three gun batteries. They also routed three enemy battalions. In another sector of the north-west front our air force destroyed 30 tanks and 40 motor-cars and routed a company of infantry. In one sector on the southwest front our air force destroyed 60 cars and several guns and machineguns. Ten enemy aeroplanes were shot down in the same sector. "In the sector on the north-west front 500 Finnish soldiers have been killed during the last two days. Our troops captured three guns and 15 machine-guns and ammunition." CRETE LANDING ECHO SLAUGHTER OF GERMANS (Rerd. 12.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 The commander of the British cruiser Dido, Captain McCall, in an interview authorised by the British Embassy, said his ship sank more than 40 German transports the size of tugs which were attempting to land German soldiers in Crete. He said it was a horrible but necessary job. All the Germans were drowned.