POSITIONS HELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24555, 10 April 1943, Page 7

POSITIONS HELD

RUSSIANS ON DONETZ ATTACKS REPULSED PROGRESS IN KUBAN LONDON, April 9 Russian forces on the upper Donetz front are still holding on to their positions and have repulsed German attacks at several points. On the Izyum sector Soviet troops have gained some ground and strengthened their position by a counter-attack after inflicting a heavy local defeat on the Germans. A new enemy thrust 30 miles further north from Izyum was repulsed with severe losses to the Germans in men and material. The Russians in the Kuban are slowly and inexorably pushing the Germans toward the sea. Their encirclement tactics threaten to isolate many of the German garrisons because their strength is offset by the precarious nature of their communications in the water-logged 1 Kuban delta. The Germans are having to fight strenuously to protect the narrow strips above the water. In the last few days the Russians had taken several villages connected with the mainland oniy by strips of land. Germans Regrouping On, the Donetz front the Germans have temporarily halted the main attacks, but both sides are probing for weak spots. The German Command from Biclgorod to Izyum is regrouping its forces ready for new attacks against Russian bridgeheads on the west bank of the Donetz, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent, but the German chances of forcing the river, unless they launch a full-scale offensive, are dwindling daily because of the ice over the river disappearing and the Donetz rising. Flooded rivers throughout Russia are making a big advance at present impossible. Soviet successes at Izyum will compel the Germans to consider the possibility of a Russian summer offensive, says the Columbia Broadcasting System's Moscow correspondent. Th® Germans on Wednesday, after launching attacks for five days, ceased their attempt to force a crossing at Izyum. German losses included 2500 dead, 27 tanks and 20 guns. Tank Type of Mobile Gun Isolated exchanges of artillery lire in the Sevsk area were the only activity on the central front. The Russians report that the Germans are extensively using a tank type of mobile 75mm. gun against the Russian artillery. The gun is mounted on a 22-ton truck with a speed of 30 miles an hour and a range of 90 miles. The Berlin radio commentator, Caprain Sertorius, says that the length of the present lull on the eastern front cannot be predicted, because the weather at present is subject to unusual fluctuations. However, the duration of the pause is not only dependable on the weather, but also on the length of time either opponent takes to complete the regrouping of forces. NEW PARTY WINS SEAT THE HOUSE OF COMMONS POLICY OF SOCIAL PROGRESS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 8 Warrant-Officer J. Loveriss (Common Wealth), with 8023 votes, won the luldisbury by-election by a majority of 486 votes over Mr. T. Peacock (LiberalNationalist). This is the first seat won by the new party. The successful candidate is in his early thirties. He was a pilot in the Battle of Britain and he flew in Spain on the Republican side. His election slogan was that every vote for him was a vote for the Beveridge report.. The new candidate advocates national ownership of land, coal, electricity, transport, and the iron and steel industries. Formed last July, the Common Wealth Party has contested five by-elections. The Times, in a leading article, says: "Warrant-Officer Loveriss is a gallant, earnest and sincere young man, With a simple, direct programme. He put the winning of the war before all else, yet he claimed priority for a policy of social progress. This policy, with-, a positive appeal, won the day. His victory is not a vote hostile to the Prime Minister, who is completely identified with the active prosecution of the war, but rather a call, which cannot safely be neglected, for prompt, unequivocal measures to give effect to the great programme of social reform embodied in the series of reports to the Government and in Mr. Churchill's broadcasts." TIMOR GUERILLAS MEN HOME FOR REST (Special Australian Correspondent) SYDNEY. April ® A party of the A.I.F. commandos who were part of the famous guerilla force that has operated on Timor Island for more than a year have arrived for a well-earned rest. The troops brought with them Japanese demands for surrender and worthless bank notes issued by the Japanese army, as well as other souvenirs of their epic defence of the island. "A pathetic feature of our departure was the grief of our native helpers," said a returned officer. "Most of these hoys had lived, marched and scouted with us for many months. They had come to have a real affection and admiration for our men." Worthless bank notes had been lavishly distributed by the Japanese among the natives, many of whom were thus won over to support the enemy: However, those who had attached themselves to the Australians had remained wonderfully loyal. Describing the Japanese as cruel and ferocious, an officer said that they fell roughly into three types. These were: —The marine, gallant and self-reliant and of a physically, good type; the bet-' ter ordinary soldiers, who were fair physical specimens; and the remainder were undersized aud animalesque. Most of the Australians developed a "paunch" from their steady diet of rice, with lesser quantities of buffalo meat and maize. In some areas, however, tropical fruit relieved the monotony of this diet. Sometimes, when rice stocks were exhausted, the men lived for days on end on native maize.

MIDDLE EAST TRANSPORT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April P The British Minister of State in the Middle East, Mr. R. G. Casey, opened the first conference of experts on motor transport in the Middle East, says a Cairo message quoted by the British official wireless. Delegates of all countries concerned were present. Mr. Casey said the fighting- services could easily profitably employ all new vehicles which could be added to the pool, but the movement of food and fuel for the people,'manufactured goods and the needs of personal transport must continue to have their share. As it was impossib 1e; to increasp. tbp total amount of transport, the lighting services must,: Siive up part of what, they required so that, civilian needs could be relieved. The transport problem would ' become even more difficult, - ■,: •• >• v . .;, „