GERMANS ATTACKING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1943, Page 3

GERMANS ATTACKING

IN THE KUBAN AREA AIR FIGHTING ON LARGE SCALE HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED BY LUFTWAFFE. LONDON, May 30. The Moscow radio states that in the Kuban area - fighting' the Germans are attacking, in spite of reports by the Axis to the contrary. Large-scale operations are confined Io the air. As many as fifty air batlies take place daily in the Kuban region. The' Luftwaffe has suffered heavv losses.

The “Red Star’’ reports that the Russians, in the past few days, repelled a number of German counter-at-tacks in the Kuban area, inflicted considerable losses, and captured prisoners and booty. The Germans lost 197 planes in the Kuban in the past three days. “The Russians have not yet confirmed the break through in the Krymskaya (Kuban) region, despite the German admision. but the recent stalemate is obviously broken,” says the -New York Times” Moscow correspondent. “It cannot be foreseen whether the Russian operation in this sec-, tor will develop into a full-scale offensive. However, the expulsion of the Nazis from their Kuban foothold across the Kerch Straits would be of the greatest significance in developments this summer. If the Germans lose their Kuban bridgehead, it would be a blow comparable, though on a lesser scale, to the expulsion from Africa.”