BREAK-THROUGH AT SEBASTOPOL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 190, 10 May 1944, Page 5

BREAK-THROUGH AT SEBASTOPOL

Main Defence System Along Heights RUSSIANS FORGE AHEAD

(-By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

'Received May 9, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. In an attack lasting two days the Red Army has broken through the Germans' main defensive system outside the city of Sebastopol. The Russians are now pouring down from the heights of Inkerman along the last three miles to the city itself. There are still formidable defences to be overcome here, and the German defenders are reported to be well supplied. A front-line correspondent says the Germans had made great additions to the fortified' zone which ran along the heights right across the south-west corner of the Crimea. It was m this defence zone that the Russians held the enemy for eight months in 1941 -42.

The Germans in their fortification work carved tier upon tier of gun platforms deep into the hillsides, and they set mines in the foothills and valleys so densely that tanks could hardly- be used. The Red Army attacked on Sunday after a fortnight’s lull. TJie Russian guns laid down a tremendous barrage, and planes ceaselessly bombed the German positions. Then shock troops began to clean up strongpoints like the historic village of Inkerman and Sugarloaf Mountain. The Germans broke on the whole front and the Russians poured forward. “A Flaming Cauldron.” “The battle for Sebastopol is nearing the climax,” says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. “Russian shock troops are storming the last German strongpoints before the city, while tommygunners are already firing into the blazing suburbs. ' “One front-line dispatch states that Sebastopol city and port and its approaches by land and sea are seething. The whole area is a flaming cauldron, with Red air fleets hammering ceaselessly day andi night and heavy Russian siege guns blasting the Germans ‘ from their final positions.” According to the Exchange Telegraph, Paris radio and Vichy radio are preparing listeners for the fall of Sebastopol by emphasizing that the fortress is only of local importance and has lost its value for the German defenders. _ A Soviet communique issued last night said that the Russians in the Crimea, supported by massed air blows and powerful artillery, on Sunday 'began to storm the heavily-fortifiedi positions defending Sebastopol. “After two days of bitter ( fighting we have broken the enemy resistance and broken through the main lines of the Sebastopol defence area and the Widely-developed system of Reinforced concrete fortifications,” it said. - “We advanced four miles and captured the heights and powerful defence centres dominating Sebastopol. “Fleet Air Arm planes sank four transports totalling 10,000 tons, a patrol cutter. and several landing barges of a convoy west of Sebastopol, and heavily-dam-ged other vessels.” . . ' A-supplementary communique, amplifying the report, says that Soviet artillery on Sunday morning opened withering fire and bombers and dive-bombers showered ■down thousands of bombs, after which the Red Army broke the entire, lengthof the main line of the fortified area. The Germans, in an effort to save the situation, counter-attacked with infantry,

tanks, and self-propelled guns, but the Russian blows were so shattering that the enemy suffered heavily and abandoned position after position. The Russians, in capturing the area of Sapugora alone, killed 4000 Germans. Nazi Bid Near Jassy. “The battle of Sebastopol is growing in fury as the Russians hurl in extremely large forces of tanks and planes,” says a German High Command report broadcast by Berlin rqdib. Balaclava is stated to be the scene of the most vigorous at“After a furious artillery bombardment wave after wave of Russian planes attacked concealed gun emplacements, the report says. “’Red Army infantry followed assailing the German lines with ever-fresh forces. The -Russians finally Succeeded in negotiating the forefield, driving a wedge into the German lines. Fierce fighting continues. ’ Moscow reports heavy fighting on the Rumanian front west of the Germanheld stronghold of Jassy. The Germans yesterday launched a day-long attack by infantry and tanks, but were thrown back to their original positions after losing 40 tanks. There were no material changes elsewhere.

POLISH ARMY TAKES UP POSITIONS

(Received May 9, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. A battalion of girl tommy-gunners trained for sentry duty and guarding convoys forms part of the Polish force totalling four front-line divisions which is taking up positions to participate im the Russian drive into Poland, says a British United Press -correspondent with -the Polish'Army on the First Ukrainian Front. Two of these girls, who are both under 20, said.that they formed part of an execution squad which shot a Pole who refused to go to the front. , - Reuter’s correspondent says that the Polish troops generally are tough and well armed. They are a powerful, force, with their own artillery and armoured and air units, i The equipment includes British, American and Canadian vehicles and guns. One division saw action near Orsha last October, Recruiting continues on a mass scale, 1000 men from liberated areas arriving in one day. Recently a Polish-American, Professor Oscar Lange, of Chicago ad-dre«-e.ed the men, who at the close of the meeting shouted: “Down, with the Polish Government in London-”