FURIOUS TANK BATTLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1942, Page 3

FURIOUS TANK BATTLES

RAGING IN THE KHARKOV AREA Heavy Enemy Losses Reported POSITION IN THE KERCH PENINSULA GERMAN CLAIM DENIED BY SOVIET LONDON, May 20. Fierce fighting continues on the Kharkov front. A c ° r^ s ' nondent of the “Red Star” reports a furious new tank battle in which enemy panzer units were routed after trying to breach the Russian lines. The Russian infantry replied at close range with anti-tank rifles and Soviet guns also went into, action. The enemy retired, leaving behind 70 wrecked tanks m front of the Russian positions. , The enemy’s numerical preponderance of tanks is b- 111 *, met in the first instance by artillery and anti-tank rifles. hen Soviet tanks of a superior type are brought into action. One German division is stated by a correspondent to have lost 450 tanks in a few days. „ No further news has come in today about the German counter-offensive south-east, of Kharkov. . Soviet troops are still resisting in the Kerch Peninsula. New and heavy battles are about to begin 'round the town of Kerch. A large group of Russian troops is still fighting at Yenikole, on the peninsula and another group of Russians is fighting near Kerch. This contradicts last night s official .German announcement that the Germans and Rumanians have completely occupied the Kerch Peninsula.