KUBAN FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1943, Page 4

KUBAN FIGHTING

DESCRIBED BY GERMANS AS VERY FIERCE SOME HINTS OF WITHDRAWAL FROM NOVOROSSISK. ACTIVITY A.GAIN FLARES UP ON DONETZ. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. Although the Russians have made only cursory references to the Kuban fighting, Berlin todayclaimed that the recent three-day battle in the Kuban was one of the hardest fought anywhere cn me eastei n front. A German front line reporter, broadcasting on the Berlin radio, declaied. -The Russians rained down 30,000 shells and dropped 10,000 bombs on the German* positions. The Russian squadrons at night flew in such close formation that collision was the pilots’ greatest risk.” , , The reporter added that the Kuban struggle was a huge battle of supplies, implying that the Germans thus far had won it. The Berlin racuo stated that continued Russian attempts yesterday to penetrate to the rear of the German defensive front by a landing from the Sea of Azov, through the lagoon area at the mouth of the Kuban River, had again failed, owing to the alertness of special Luftwaffe formations ,whose bombs and machine-gun fire sank fifteen fully-laden landing craft and two freighters.

The Exchange Telegraph Agency's correspondent in Zurich says that neutral correspondents in Berlin are drawing attention to the fact that German War Office spokesmen are emphasising that the Russians possess a material superiority of ten to one on the Kuban front. Correspondents say this has given rise to a supposition that the evacuation of Novorossisk is about to begin. Fighting has again Hared up around the mid-Donctz bridgeheads. The German News Agency reported that the Russians had launched two attacks on the Lisichansk area, and added that very heavy artillery and mortar lire strongly supported the attacks. THIRTY-ONE PLANES LOST BY THE GERMANS. IN ATTEMPTING RAIDS NEAR LENINGRAD. LONDON, May 31. German aircraft which tried to raid targets near Leningrad were engaged by Russian fighters. Twen-ty-five were shot dewn, and antiaircraft guns destroyed six more, making a total cf 31. The Russians lost three planes.