FIGHTING FRONT EXTENDED IN RUSSIA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1942, Page 6

FIGHTING FRONT EXTENDED IN RUSSIA

LULL AT KHARKOV

Large Soviet Convoy In Baltic Attacked ' 11 "' 1 I 'it--; A "i>< i.ii i.,n—fnpyrlght. ' tfr 2 I 1 LONDON. May 31. Do.pur diriiKin announcements '! I ' l ' 1 ' • 11 ' "f Kharkov is over, liirii' is certainly another stage • li: ' '> • 111" Times Stockholm '' 1 '' * |"'i:d<-ni. Heavv fighting is "ii H" 1 "nlv toward Isvum, I'it ■11 -o iir.ircr to Kharkov. and I II" iipet ,ill<mis 1111111fcIi;irr-1\- around Km." k« »v im* I »rt wrrn Kh.'irknv unci 11 "• mi'-' inevitably again flare up as <.oiiti as one .side is able to re- nine i lie oii'i-n-ive. Wed Star, Soviet military journal, reports thai the Russians are consolidating and fortifying too points captured during the Kharkov fighting. Ila If a million troops are engaged in the yjtal battle of 'he bulge around Isyum, MMithcast of Kharkov. The Rii-ian. are reported to have temI'l'raril/ .stabilised the situation, after bia'uig oil' attacks by great German 1"| iy- There a>-e no signs of the flow "I Lei man reserves (Irv ing up. The vl-a i her is hitler, with o< casional 1111 ■! ii lei storms. ' I ' | i" German general, Rock, has Kuleo in hi-i struggles to cross the Done!/, Kivor. which is plaving a leading role in the tactical developincut of (he German counterolleiisi'.c. For 72 hours the Germans have been within striking distance ol the river, but the Russians hold all their defence points. Other reports say the Russians are still hammering the German drive. Severe street fighting is taking place in one town.

The Germans admit that they have been lorced on the defensive in one sector in the Isyurn region. They have also become less aggressive in the Khai kov area.

A Russian communique states that the Russians have repulsed the enemy and inflicted heavy losses in the Isyum-Marvenkova sector. It adds that there is nothing of importance U> report Horn the o'her sectors. According to a special announcement by the Soviet Information Bureau the Russian High Command •ome time ago learned about German plans for a great offensive on a ■ector of the Rostov front, where the Germans had recently concentrated 30 infantry and six tank divisions and a large quantity of artillery and planes. The Russian Command, in order to forestall the enemy's move, ■tarted the offensive in the' Kharkov direction. The actual capture of Kharkov was not included in the plan.

Mussing on Smolensk Front Important operations are brewing on the central front. The Germans are massing strong forces on the Smolensk-Viazma railwav, but Russian preparations in this sector are also well advanced. The Germans have already made several tentative local attacks.

A Moscow message says that Russian artillery on the Bryansk front balked a German attempt to cross a river and dispersed sappers trying to build a bridge, also a supporting column. Russian fighters on the Bryansk front penetrated an umbrella of 25 Messerschmitts over a German tank column and destroyed four tanks, 50 lorries and also three Messerschmitts.

Russian fleet air arm pilots escorting a large convoy of Russian transports in the Baltic Sea brought down eight German dive-bombers, two bombers and three fighters when the convoy was raided. No ships were damaged.

The Moscow radio reports Increased activity on the Leningrad front, where the Russians, in spite of the struggle on the southern front, are keeping up their pressure. The Russians occupied several important positions after piercing strong German fortifications.

The Germans are being compelled to wage exhausting battles in a swampy area and to bring up*supplies and troops by air. Hitler has once again referred to the difficulties of his winter campaign. Addressing 10,000 newly-pro-moted officers in BeHin he referred to the Russian fighting, saying this was a moment for holding on and mastering difficult situations rather than for celebrating victories already won.