STORMED BY RUSSIANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1943, Page 4

STORMED BY RUSSIANS

STRONG GERMAN FORTIFIED SYSTEM NORTH OF SMOLENSK ENEMY RUSHING UP RESERVES. FURIOUS AIR FIGHTING OVER KUBAN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. The Russians have made a sensational break through south-west of Velikiye Luki (north of Smolensk). This action, for the moment at any rate, has diverted attention from the noticeably increasing momentum of the battle in the Kuban territory. “The Times” Moscow correspondent describes the action southwest of Velikiye Luki as the capture, practically intact, of a valuable German sector. The Moscow radio says the Russians stormed their way through deep fortifications which had been built up foi over six months. The Russians, sweeping on, captured many prisoners and much booty. There were dugouts, pillboxes and trenches covering every hollow and height. The manoeuvre was so rapid that it surprised the Germans, who left the entire defensive system without putting up a fight. The Red Army is still attacking. The Berlin radio stated that fighting is flaring up along the whole front, following on improved weather and the consequenqt hardening of the ground. The Russians are trying to improve their positions in the Kuban, Donetz River. Moscow and Volkhov sectors. “The Times” Moscow correspondent, describing the Kuban battle, says the Russian guns have been active for 48 hours, breaking down strongly fortified German defences, north-east of Novorossisk, which the Russians reached yesterday. German counter-attacks are strenuous and frequent, but the Red Army infantry is steadily progressing, under powerful artillery and air support, the latter being on the bigrfpsi 1 scale of the Russian war. All Russian accounts of the Kuban fighting stress the German determination to hold on to the bridgehead at all costs. The Germans are bringing up reserves to many bases, while crowded airfields suggest an early attack. Reuter's Moscow correspondent reports that the Germans are massing large, fresh forces at various points along the Russian front. Axis sources confirm the Russian view that the Germans are preparing for an all-out offensive. The Paris radio declared that: “Day after day, trains packed with new weapons, material and vehicles are rolling towards Russia. They represent an uninterrupted line of over 625 miles.”

The Associated Press Moscow correspondent states that the air war oyer the Kuban has reached its highest pitch. The Russian air force has destroyed over 500 planes in the past four days, many on German-held airfields behind the front. German and Rumanian reserves which are being hurried to the front are receiving a merciless pounding from Stormoviks and bombers. Fighter planes are mowing down the German infantry in sudden swoops.