AIR SUPREMACY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1943, Page 3

AIR SUPREMACY

CLAIMED BV SOVIET IN THE KUBAN CONFLICT. BITTER LAND FIGHTING CONTINUES. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, May 13. The Moscow radio reports bitterr fighting north-east of Novorossisk and in the area of the lower regions in the Kuban. “The enemy is offering fierce resistance and attempting to stem our advance by massed air raids, but air supremacy is in Soviet hands. On several sectors our troops pushed forward and occupied valuable positions.” RAID ON WARSAW AXIS TRAINS & DEPOTS BOMBED BY RUSSIANS. HUGE EXPLOSIONS OBSERVED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 13. A Soviet special communique states: “On Wednesday night long-range Soviet bombers attacked a railway junction at Warsaw. German trains with arms, ammunition dumps and railway installations were bombed. Our bombers also attacked the Warsaw suburb of Prage. As a result of the bombing large fires and huge explosions among enemy trains and ammunition dumps were observed. All the Soviet planes returned to their bases. BOTH SIDES ON EDGE BATTLES ON LARGE SCALE ANTICIPATED. POSSIBLE NAZI PLANS. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 14. No new developments are reported from the Russian land front, but each side is warning that the other may soon launch large-scale attacks. Where the big clash will come is a matter of conjecture. The Germans have large concentrations of men, tanks and planes ready to attack on a number of sectors where the Red Air Force is raiding key communications. The “Red Star’ says the hour is approaching for large-scale battles, involving great masses of troops. It claims that the German generals are putting all their hopes on their armour and air force. The Berlin radio says that, in view of the big transport movements observed during the past few days, the Germans hourly expect the Russians to resume large-scale attacks in' the Kuban area. The German and Rumanian forces, it is added, have taken all necessary measures to repulse the enemy. The Germans might attempt to deal a swift blow in the two, or more months in which Hitler may reckon he will be relatively free from the necessity of warding off an invasion from the west, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. Recent local activity suggests that the Germans plan to launch two offensives concurrently, or in swift succession, the first from the Bryansk-Orel sector, eastwards, and (hen northwards to threaten Moscow from the rear and the second through the Donets line to Rostov,, in an attempt to gain a hold on the western part of the North Caucasus as far south as Krasnodar, with an additional force striking towards Batum and thence across Caucasia to the Caspian, to invest Baku. SOVIET PLANES BUSY LOSSES THREE TO ONE AGAINST ENEMY. % LONDON, May 14. Another big series of day and night bombing attacks has been made by Soviet aircraft. Particular attention was paid to enemy communications. Seventy-two enemy aircraft were destroyed for the loss of 27 Soviet planes.