KUBAN FIGHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25238, 29 May 1943, Page 5

KUBAN FIGHTING

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE NAZIS ADMIT WITHDRAWAL LONDON. May 27. “The long-expected battle for the Kuban bridgehead began yesterday in : full intensity,” said the Berlin radio to-night. “After several hours' artillery preparation at least 10 Soviet rifle divisions and five tank brigades opened an offensive against a narrow region in the eastern sector of the bridgehead. The Russians aim at clearing the road to-Temryuk and to the western foothills of the Taman Peninsula. A number of Soviet bombers and battle aircraft, with fighter escort, intervened, concentrating against the rear communications of the German bridgehead on the Kerch Straits. The Russians threw in about 200 planes of all types, but the assault against the German supply lines failed. “The Germans, in order as far as possible to mitigate the Russian artillery fire, temporarily evacuated a strip of Jand several kilometres broad and about two kilometres deep. Thus the Soviet attempts to break German resistance with 1000 heavy-calibre shells remained ineffective. “ Russian rifle regiments, accompanied by about 170 tanks, streamed into the trenches and cover for the first attack, but met a violent counterattack. German machine guns produced a terrible effect among the charging enemy. In spite of the shattering defeat thus suffered, Russian preparations have been so comprehensive that it may be reckoned that they will continue the attack against the brideghead. particularly as this offensive is only part of a plan to win the Kerch Straits and the eastern part of the Crimea.” According to the German News Agency, the Soviet apparently intends to throw the new rifle and tank formations concentrated in the Leningrad area against the Finnish front, There is every sign, says the News Agency, that an attack against the Annus Isthmus can be expected. A superior Soviet force attacked the Finnish-held sector yesterday/ but failed to gain ground. Both sides employed very heavy batteries in a fierce artillery duel on the Leningrad front. Moscow correspondent says the Red Army is using every hour to strengthen its defensive positions along the whole front ?md far into the rear. The newspaper Red Star expects the storm to break at any moment with a German offensive launched with massed panzer attacks, the Germans threatening that if they cannot take Leningrad they will lay it in ruins. Their bombers and longrange guns have recently been heavily pounding the city.