GERMAN AIR LOSSES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 38, 16 February 1943, Page 5

GERMAN AIR LOSSES

(Recd. 1.5 a.m.) Rugby, Feb. 15. The Russian communique says:— ‘‘During the week from February 7 to 13 243 German planes were destroyed in aerial combat and on enemy aerodromes. Our losses in the same period were 101 planes. From February 1 to 12 Soviet naval units and planes sank six enemy transports and one patrol vessel in the Barents Sea.” The supplement records the continuance of the successful offensive in the Likhaya area and south-west of Voroshilovgrad and in the area of Krasnoarmeisk. Booty captured in the latter area includes 11 railway trains, one containing 20 tanks. Progress is also reported in the Chuguyev area and in the Fatezh (north of Kursk) area. Moscow wireless this morning broadcast a despatch from the front stating that fierce fighting was going on in the Kuban country. The enemy, offering stubborn resistance, is concentrating his forces on small sectors and launching counter-attacks with tanks and automatic riflemen, but all have been repelled. The Red Army, encouraged by its successes, is increasing the pressure against the enemy. One Soviet unit, after repelling 13 enemy counter-attacks, went over to the offensive and pushed forward.

Martial law has been declared in Warsaw, according to German newspapers quoted by a Zurich correspondent. Last week 170 persons were executed for “sabotage and acts against German soldiers.”—B.O.W.