LAUNCHED BY RUSSIANS IN UKRAINE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1942, Page 4

LAUNCHED BY RUSSIANS IN UKRAINE

Germans Surprised and Thrown Back RESERVES FAIL TO CHECK SOVIET TROOPS HEAVY ATTACKS IN PROGRESS ALSO ON LENINGRAD FRONT (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 14. _ Russia has launched a (full-scale offensive in the Ukraine, says the Moscow radio. Strong forces under Marshal Timoshenko have broken through the Germans’ first defence line at Kharkov and are preparing to advance against the second line and against the city itself. Heavy Russian attacks have also been launched on the Leningrad front. The “Red Star’’ says the Russian attack on Kharkov surprised the Germans, who hurriedly retreated, abandoning great quantities of ammunition, artillery and other war materials. The Germans called up reserves, but failed to check the Russians. A Moscow report says tank forces were hurled in from two directions against one fortified zone in the German defence system. After the tanks went through, infantry surrounded the German pill-boxes. The Russians are now pouring through the gap. The Moscow radio declares that the Russian attack against Kharkov is no mere diversion, aimed at distracting the Germans from the Crimea. A special Moscow despatch says Russian infantry, m close co-operation with tanks and planes, are Successfully advancing in several sectors of the Leningrad front. The Germans are desperately attempting to resist, but have been forced to retreat. The Russian Air Force has supremacy night and day. It is bombing enemy lines of communication.