KUBAN OPERATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 3

KUBAN OPERATIONS

DECISIVE CLASH COMING BOTH SIDES PREPARING (Rec. 7 p.m.'i LONDON, Apl. 28. The Russians have not mentioned any new attack along the whole front, but the Germans assert that the Red Army is again attacking with fresh troops on the eastern sector of the Kuban bridge-head. The Moscow correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that little action is reported from the front beyond local Russian raiding across the river-line between Rostov and Taganrog. Both sides in the Kuban area are preparing for a decisive clash, and are also massing dumps and regrouping for the struggles next month at other frontline key-points. Berlin radio stated that the Russians in the Kuban have resumed their attacks with forces from neighbouring sectors. “ They made several thrusts to the south of the Kuban River, each time in battalion strength, and used strong air forces in support of the attacking troops.”

A Soviet communique says: “ There were no important changes on the front to-day.” A supplement states: “ In the Kuban area artillery and reconnaissance activity took place. One Soviet tank detachment, during one of the most recent engagements, destroyed 11 guns, 17 machine guns, and 18 mortars, and disabled four German tanks. During the day 15 German planes were shot down by Soviet planes, and eight German planes were destroyed by antiaircraft batteries. South of Balakleya our patrols wiped out over 100 Germans. The Soviet Air Force attacked an enemy aerodrome and destroyed 15 enemy planes. Our planes shot down another two planes in aerial combat.”