LITTLE CHANGE IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23976, 17 June 1943, Page 5

LITTLE CHANGE IN RUSSIA

Axis Predicts Big Soviet Assault PATROLSACTIVE IN VARIOUS SECTORS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. Soviet patrols have again been active on several sectors of the Eastern Front, but there is still no big change. Axis military critics, according to statements from Berlin and Paris, consider that the flaring up of activity on various sectors of the Eastern Front indicates that a new great Russian offensive is impending. The Berlin radio reported a Russian attack in a sector which has been quiet for several months—near Bielev, which is 60 miles north of Orel. The radio said that the Russians broke into the German positions at two points but the Germans closed the breaches. Moscow to-day spoke of the repulse of German counter-attacks north of Orel. The Berlin radio yesterday said that military intelligence confirmed that the Russians were massing south of Moscow. It added that the Soviet forces in. this area were reported to total a whole army. The Berlin radio added that the Germans repulsed Russian attempts to cross the Volkhov river, in the Leningrad area, in barges, and had held back three local Russian thrusts before Leningrad. The German High Command reports that the Russians made new thrusts against German positions on the Kuban front. "The enemy repeatedly attacked our lines with about one regiment at a time,” it stated. "All were repulsed. Further attacks on high ground north-west of Krymskaya were also beaten off.” The Moscow radio reported that the Germans, after suffering a heavy defeat in two days of fighting on a sector west of Rostov, again failed to gain any success. The radio added that a comparative lull had now set in on this sector. The Germans for the first time for months have bonbed Maikop, the centre of the north-west Caucasian oilfield. The Berlin radio claimed that considerable damage was done. Soviet bombers attacked an enemyoccupied northern port and sank a destroyer, says a communique from Moscow. Cutters and other craft were damaged. The defences were taken by surprise, and it was several minutes before any anti-aircraft shells were fired. An air battle lasting three hours in which aircraft of Russia’s Northern Navy escorting a convoy defeated a series of attacks by a number of German aeroplanes, is reported by the Moscow radio. The convoy, which was carrying valuable cargoes, was first attacked by 20 enemy aeroplanes. This attack was beaten off, but 10 Focke Wulfs developed another attack, and after fighting had lasted for some time both sides received reinforcements. In these engagements five Messerschmitts and four Focke Wulfs were shot into the sea. An enemy hydroplane attempted to rescue the German crews,-but herself was damaged, and capsizefd. Four German airmen were drowned and three others were taken prisoner.