VAIN EFFORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1942, Page 3

VAIN EFFORTS

BY GERMANS ON EASTERN FRONT COUNTER-ATTACKS DEFEATED WITH SLAUGHTER. ENEMY LOSSES OF AIRCRAFT ■ & TANKS. LONDON, April 5. There is more news of the flight of the Sixteenth German Army, hemmed in at Staraya Russa, south of Lake Ilmen. Last Wednesday the infantry of the beleaguered army made a mass counterattack and tried to break through, with tank and plane support. In face of strong Russian artillery fire the Germans were forced to fall back, leaving 2,500 killed. German prisoners taken at Staraya Russa regard the position of their comrades as hopeless. During the last battle in this region, 45 enemy planes were destroyed, 24 being troop-carry-ing planes, used by the Germans to get food and supplies to their surrounded troops. In the area between Moscow and Kharkov the Russians have smashed a big German counter-attack and destroyed 14 enemy tanks and wiped out an enemy infantry battalion. Three more enemy tanks were left behind. They were of the 1942 model in goodworking order.

EARLIER REPORTS

GAINS MADE BY SOVIET TROOPS. LONDON, April 4. The Russians report advances on the Kalinin front, where it is claimed repeated German counter-attacks have failed in spite of tank support. Russians on the central front broke through the German positions and'captured an important village. Both Russian and German reports indicate heavy Russian attacks on the Donetz front.

A Soviet communique states: “In two days of fierce fighting on the Kalinin front cavalry commanded by General Timoneev killed 1600 Germans. On another part of the same front the Russians dislodged the enemy from positions. A strong German attack on the Bryansk front was repulsed, the enemy leaving on the battlefied over 1000 men and 18 tanks. On one sector of the central front the Russians, overcoming strong resistance, occupied several fortified places.”