LOCAL ACTIONS IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23975, 16 June 1943, Page 3

LOCAL ACTIONS IN RUSSIA

LEND-LEASE AID TO RUSSIA

Fighting North Of Orel BERLIN SPEAKS OF KUBAN BATTLE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Bee. 11 p.m.) LONDON. June 15. With both sides on the Russian front in the last few weeks concentrating great masses of troops and supplies, and the Luftwaffe and the Red Air Force making determined raids on each other’s depots behind the lines, it is apparent that the opponents are squaring up for mammoth movements but at present, except for large-scale air raids, there are no actions exceeding tactical importance. The Official German News Agency last night said that considerably increased Russian shock troop activity on several fronts showed that the Russians were ready for a large-scale offen. sive. The agency added that after a long lull the enemy on Sunday again launched attacks against the northern wing of the Kuban bridgehead which were repelled. A fairly strong local attack west of Byelgorod was also beaten back. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says that though four townships have been wrested from the Germans north-west of Mtsensk, on the Moscow-Orel railway, there is no indication from Russian circles that the Russian attack

here has gone beyond local tactical operations. To-day’s Moscow communique gives more details of the local fighting north of Orel, After the Russians had wrested the four townships from the Germans, the enemy threw in infantry, tanks, and aircraft in several counter-attacks, but all the counterattacks were repulsed with heavy losses. Reuter also reports that the Germans west of Rostov were pressing their attack with great determination for the second successive day. The battle swayed to and fro from dawn on Saturday, but late on Sunday night the Russians were holding all their positions, though one of them was temporarily lost during the day. Russian bombers in daylight yesterday attacked the railway junction at the German base of Orel. The Moscow radio reports that several enemy troop trains were bombed and fires and explosions were seen. Three Soviet aeroplanes are missing. Moscow also reports that German aircraft which attempted to raid Saratov, north of Stalingrad,' were broken up by Soviet fighters. Some of the raiders, however, managed to get through and some civilians were injured. The damage was negligible, but six of the German machines were shot down. The Berlin radio said that the Luftwaffe on Sunday night again attacked the armament works at Gorky, east of Moscow, and Saratov. Large fires were observed.

THOUSANDS OF GUNS, TANKS, AND PLANES (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 14. “Lend-lease is providing Russia with vital assistance in the field of industry and agriculture,” says the United States Lend-lease Administrator (Mr Edward G. Stettinius) in a report on such shipments during the 19 months ended April 30 last. “The most important single contribution is completed weapons—tanks, aeroplanes, and guns—in thousands. These have been shipped over a variety of routes, and many aeroplanes have been flown all the way or assembled en route after being delivered part of the way in American ships. Against the enemy they have made themselves felt effectively. “A close second has been raw materials shipped and fabricated into weapons by Russia's industrial plants.” 11.000. MEN IN FORCES U.S. GOAL BY END OF YEAR (8.0. W.) RUGBY. June 14. The United States will have 11.000. men in the armed forces by the end of 1943, and possibly more in the first six months of next year, said the Chief of the United States War Manpower Commission (Mr Paul V. McNutt) in an address to the Appropriations Committee of the United States House of Representatives. The number will include 1,700,000 men to be added in the next six months. Munitions and industrial employees now number 10,000,000. This figure, said Mr McNutt, must increase to 11,300,000 in the next 12 months. Two and a half million civilian industrial workers will transfer to the armed forces and munitions, while more than 1.000. housewives, students, and older workers will bo drawn into the war effort. The total national labour force will reach the record level of 65,400,000. “Americans will spend 106,000,000,000 dollars on the war in 1943, an 80 per cent, increase on 1942,” said the chairman of the United States War Production Board (Mr Donald M. Nelson). “Munitions production is expected to rise 125 per cent. Last year’s production of 47,694 aeroplanes will he multi, plied three and a half times in value and it will be substantially greater in quantity.” Mr Nelson added that leaner days for civilians were coming. Civilian goods and services in the last three months of 1943 would be 20 per cent, below the 1942 level. ALLIED FREIGHTER SALVAGED WORK AT AUSTRALIAN PORT SYDNEY. June 13. The biggest salvage feat ever attempted in Australia has been completed. An Allied freighter, after colliding with a collier at an Australian port, sank in more than 30 feet of water and then settled in 20 feet of mud. Before an attempt could be made to raise the ship a huge hole made by the collision had to be patched. A single steel patch was made ashore and welded over the bole in three days. The feat is believed to be without precedent anywhere in the world. Coffer d§ms were erected round the vessel, which was raised to the surface at the rate of two inches an hour. The whole job took five weeks. It was directed by the chief officer of the Commonwealth Salvage Board, who salvaged the bullion from the sunken Niagara last year.