KHARKOV BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1942, Page 4

KHARKOV BATTLE

EXTENDING RUSSIAN SUCCESS ENEMY PREPARATIONS DISORGANISED. BLOODY FIGHTING IN KERCH PENINSULA. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day. 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. General von Bock is throwing in all available forces in an attempt to disorganise the Red Army’s advance on Kharkov, which is now in its ninth day. Observers, however,, are of opinion that Marshal Timoshenko has already his principal objective —the disorganisation of German preparations for a drive, on the Caucasus. The Russians are pressing on, despite continued resistance, and have penetrated the Kharkov defences to a depth of from 30 to 40 miles. According to reports reaching New York. Kharkov is ablaze. A National Broadcasting Corporation correspondent says the battle zone looks like hell. The roads are littered with hundreds of burned-out German tanks. The Russians are mopping up isolated groups of Germans, all of whom are bewildered and appear to have been drugged. The “Izvestia” reports that a vast tank battle is raging particularly fiercely north-east of Kharkov. German tanks pierced the Russian positions in one sector, but the Red Army ouickly brought in a devastating concentration of anti-tank guns? rifles and Stcrmoviks, compelling the enemy to withdraw. German despatches state that the Russian resistance in the Kerch Peninsula has stiffened since the arrival of fresh Russian units. Berlin admits that the battle for Kerch is one of the bloodiest this year. * Commentators believe that von Manstein’s army has suffered very heavy losses of men and material during the eleven day battle for the peninsula and that a considerable reorganisation will be necessary before any attempt can be made to cross the Kerch Strait tc the Caucasus.