RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1943, Page 2

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

IN THE SOUTH

Enemy’s Delaying Attack

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.} LONDON, May 28,

■ German sources continue to describe the Russian attacks against the Axis positions in Kuban, where fierce hand-to-hand fighting is reported to be occurring. The Germans claim that Russian major offensives which have been going on since Wednesday were launched north of Novorossisk, and in the Temryuk area, but Moscow thus far has been silent about such operations. The Nazi-controlled Paris radio says: “The Russian offensive in the Kuban is on a large scale and of great violence.” The Berlin radio said that the Russians from dawn to dusk yesterday continued savage attacks against the Kuban bridgehead. They are using strong artillery tank forces, and hurled twenty regiments 'successively against the German lines. Ten heavy modern tanks supported each attack. The German Grenadiers with the support of Stukas and other war-planes repulsed the enemy. The radio added that the high ground south of the marshes in Lower Kuban were particularly hotly contesteu. The Russians failed to weaken the Germans’ defensive power despite the strong forces employed against the bridgehead and its surrnlv lines. The Russians, however, are expected to continue their onslaught. The Finnish radio, in a statement quoted by Reuter, said: “The Russian armies are on the move in a powerful new offensive against the German lines. The Russians already seem to have taken the offensive. Troop concentrations which have been going on for several weeks indicate the Russian military leaders have been preparing; for action on a scale equal to any major Russian offensive.”

The British United Press Moscow correspondent reports that the Germans lost 131 planes in fierce battles during the past two days north-east of Novorossisk. The Russian planes were also active against German transports in the Black Sea “Red Star” says the Germans west of Rostov are betraying an obstinate interest in, locating the disposition of the Russian guns, resulting in frequent short, fierce, battles of local interest.

The Berlin radio also stated that the Russians continued diversionary attacks on other fronts, including the central front. German controlled Paris radio reports strong Soviet infantry attacks in the Kuban area. To-night’s Soviet communique mereiv stated: "To-day in the Kuban region, north-east of Novorossisk, lighting continued.” The communique adds that there have been no other important changes on other sectors of the front, and a supplement records only smaller occasional activities at various points An earlier message from Moscow stated: Soviet aeroplanes in the Kuban, m activity which had now spread)to the sea, had set fir e to a German troopship. A special Soviet communique stated: "On Thursday night Soviet bombers attacked the railway junctions at Mogilev, Karachev, and Roslaye. At Karachev and Roslave direct hits on trains were observed, and explosions and 1 fires were started. Mogilev, particularly, was effectively bombed and several trains and an ammunition dump were set on fire. All the Soviet aeroplanes returned.” The Moscow radio is giving great prominence to recent Allied air raids on German industrial targets. KUBAN BATTLE CONTINUES. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 29. 'file Paris radio says: The battle of the Kuban is continuing with great violence. The radio adds that the Russians have not yet thrown in their full strength. The Moscow YniddaM communique on Saturday again made no mention

of the Kuban fighting. It recorded successful Russian attacks m. 'the Lisichansk area. The communique stated: “Nothing of importance occurred on the front last night. A Russian detachment in Lisichansk area attacked and dislodged enemy forces, after hand-to-hand fighting, from fortified positions. The Germans counter-attacked, but were thrown back after losing a number of dead. War material and prisoners were also taken. Moscow “Red Star” reports: Russian forces l in the past few days repelled a number of German counterattacks in the Kuban, inflicted considerable losses, and captured prisoners and booty. The Germans nave lost 197 planes in the Kuban in the past three days. “The New York Times” Moscow correspondent says: The Russians have not yet confirmed a breakthrough in Krymskaya in the Kuban region despite that the Germans have admitted one, but the recent stalemate has obviously been broken. It cannot yet be seen if the operation in this sector will develop into a fullscale offensive. However, expulsion of the Nazis from the- Kuban foothold across the Kerch Straits would be of the greatest significance in developments this summer. If the Germans lost their Kuban bridgehead, it would be a blow comparable, although on a lesser scale, to their expulsion from Africa. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent say,s: Fierce clashes are reported from Kalinin, north-west of Moscow. There the Germans are stubbornly resisting Russian reconnaissance patrols.

(Rec. 6.30) RUGBY. May 29. A Soviet communique reports: There has been continued fighting north-east of Novoross'sk. Soviet airmen in the Gulf of Riga sank an enemy transport. Last night a long-distance air force made a mass raid on a railway junction at Vitebsk. Many fires occurred. Several- trains were wrecked. An area of enemy ammunition and oil dumps was subjected to particularly fierce bombine. All the Soviet planes returned. In the Lisichansk area there was Icoal fighting, in which the Russians took some trenches. The enemv, after an unsuccessful counter-attack left 400 dead on the battlefield.

ALLIED PLANS. LONDON. May 28. The “Daily Mail’s” diplomatic correspondent, discussing diffleuties m the way of a meeting between President Roosevelt and M. Stalin, the correspondent says that it may be true that Mr. Davies’s mission m Moscow has some other and more immediate purpose. Hitler’s hesitation. in launching the expected offensive against the Russians indicates something of his present dilemma. The Russians three weeks ago awaited a big German attack of \'h 1C h they had precise information J hen Tunis & Bizerta fell and Hitler was quite unprepared for the North African defeat, which disorganised his plans. It. is believed that the Germans expected the Tunisian campaign to last at least an additional month. The presence of Rommel in the Balkans may indicate that the Germans erpect a British American thrust thereabouts, but the Nazis, helve clearly not solved the problems of Italy. They have also sent strong reinforcements to Denmark.