AIR FIGHTING IN RUSSIA

Southland Times, Issue 25692, 29 June 1943, Page 5

AIR FIGHTING IN RUSSIA

HEAVY NAZI LOSSES (8.0.W.) RUGBY, June 27. . A Soviet communique says that a total of 211 German planes were shot down last week for the loss of 74 Russian aircraft. Soviet airmen yesterday sank an enemy submarine in the Black Sen. There have been local activities in various sectors —mainly reconnaissance. In one sector of the Kalinin front a Soviet detachment recently occupied an inhabited locality. The enemy unsuccessfully counter-attacked six times in one day, but were forced back, losing about 400 officers and men. The Red Air Force without loss to itself bombed Orel railway junction and aerodromes at Orel and other places on Saturday night. The stabilization of the Russian and German front on the long northern stretches. of the Donetz River has created a situation of border warfare with incidents reminiscent of the old tales of frontier fighting between Cossacks and Tartar tribesmen on the Terek or of the Croat defence of the Danubian marshes against the Turks. The Russians and Germans, both using ingenious ruses, pass scouts through the enemy lines. GERMAN SUBTERFUGE The Soviet newspaper Pravda reports that the Germans, donning skirts , and covering their heads and shoulders with shawls, have been proceeding down to the river with buckets, and that the Russians, where the Donetz is sufficiently narrow, have been throwing grenades against these sham peasants. The Russians are also busy scouting on the right bank for information for their artillery and recent films show some of the tricks used. For instance, Tadjik soldiers drift downstream under inflated sheepskins with all but their eyes submerged. On occasions there are brisk mortar and machine-gun exchanges and light artillery duels. There are also sometimes more serious engagements when the enemy tries to force the river with one or two battalions supported by tanks, but the front has recently been very quiet. JAPANESE EFFORTS Attempt To Induce Russia To Make Peace LONDON, June 27. For the past six months the Japanese Ambassador to Russia, Mr Sato, has been attempting to induce Russia and Germany to talk peace, says the British United Press Stockholm correspondent. The Japanese fear that an Axis defeat is impending, after which Japan’s position will be hopeless, is believed to be the reason for Mr Sato’s activities. Japan, it is also believed, fears that Russia eventually will allow the Allies to use her Siberian bases for raids against the Japanese mainland. M. Stalin’s announcement of Russia’s adherence to the Casablanca policy of unconditional surrender by the Axis answered Mr Sato’s early efforts. His new approach is reported to be based on the argument that Russia and Germany will not benefit from a fight to a finish on the Eastern Front for the benefit of the western democracies. FOOD FROM" UKRAINE BENEFITS FOR GERMANS LONDON, June 27. Provided their calculations are not upset by military operations this summer, this year will be the first since they swept the area in 1941 that the Germans can be expected to derive any major benefits by their occupation of the Ukraine, says Cyrus Sulzberger in The New York Times. When the Germans took over the province nearly two years ago it was too late and too chaotic for them to secure any important food gains. The destruction wrought by war conditions, the disappearance of live stock and draught animals, eithei- by slaughter or evacuation, and the removal of most of the tractors under the “scorched earth” policy prevented the Axis from gathering any harvest. The prospects this year are far better from the German viewpoint. Climatically June has been an excellent month, and May provided heavy rains, making up for the exceptionally dry winter, and above-the-average harvests are expected throughout Russia. While this helps unoccupied Russia, it also will unquestionably help Germany in some of its conquered areas. The organization for occupation is more efficient now after more than 18 months’ tenancy of the major portion of the Ukraine. Russia’s Importance Contribution To Stability (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 27. Mr Joseph Davies, formerly American Ambassador in Moscow, addressing a “Tribute to Russia” meeting in New York, said: “The job of this generation is not only to win the war, but also to outlaw war. To effect this it is clear that an agreement between the great nations of the earth is required. There can be no certain victory without Russia. There can be no post-war adjustment and no post-war peace that will be effective with Russia outside it.”