FIGHTING ON THE KHARKOV FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 May 1942, Page 3

FIGHTING ON THE KHARKOV FRONT

Increased Employment of Enemy Infantry GERMAN TANKS BEING USED MORE SPARINGLY NEW SOVIET ATTACK OPENED IN NORTH LONDON, May 21. Fighting on the Kharkov front is growing in violence. The German radio states that masses of Russian forces are attacking in wave after wave. . A new Soviet assault in the north is reported m a soviet broadcast. Soviet infantry, supported by artillery fire, attacked in a sector of the Karelia,n front. A big new tank battle is reported to be raging on one sector of the Kharkov front. The latest news is given in a front line despatch in the Soviet Army paper “Red Star,’ ’ which states that it is apparent that there has been a change in the character of the fighting round Kharkov. The Russians have broken through the German defences and fighting has developed into a series of battles in depth. Heavy losses of tanks have compelled the enemy to change his tactics. Instead of using masses of tanks he is now sending forward infantry to attack, with the support of groups of ten to fifteen tanks. In spite of this mobile warfare the Germans are still holding on stubbornly to some of their defences. In forty minutes of desperate fightingone stronghold was taken and the German garrison wiped out. In London it is believed that Marshal Timoshenko’s men have made their main progress on the northern part of the Kharkov front. There is no news of the German counter-attacks at Isyum, 80 miles south-east of Kharkov, and further south. There are reports of continued fierce fighting in the region of the town of Kerch, in the Crimea. In London, Mr Attlee spoke of what he called the Russian hit back and said: “We have our own plans, but lam not allowed to say anything about them. Mr Attlee promised that all possible help would be given to India and the Dominions.