FURIOUS ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 June 1942, Page 3

FURIOUS ATTACKS

BROKEN BY RUSSIANS. POSITION TEMPORARILY. STABILISED. LONDON, May 30. Half a million troops are engaged in the vital battle of the bulge round Izyum. The Russians are reported to have temporarily stabilised the situation after beating off attacks by vast German forces. Field-Marshal von Bock failed in all-day struggles to cross the Donetz River, which is playing a leading role in the tactical development of the German counter-offensive. For 72 hours the Germans have been within striking distance of the river, but the Russians hold all the defence points. The Germans have admitted that they have been forced on the defensive in one sector in the Izyum region and have also become less aggressive in the Kharkov area. SOVIET STAND MAY ALTER WHOLE CAMPAIGN. MOSCOW, May 31. The Russians’ stand at Izyum, where they held off the whole weight of the German counterattack, may have finally dynamited the entire German spring campaign and strategy. Field-Marshal von Bock, for twelve days, was forced to use up men and materials to such an extent that it .will probably compel the Germans to alter * the disposition of their reserves in . other sectors. The Russian artillery on the Bryansk front baulked a German attempt to cross the river and dispersed sappers trying to build a bridge and also a supporting column. Russian fighters on the Bryansk front penetrated an umbrella of 25 Messerschmitts over a German tank column and destroyed four tanks and 50 lorries, also three Messerschmitts. Russian fleet air arm pilots escorting a large convoy of Russian transports in the Baltic Sea brought down eight German dive-bombers, two bombers and three fighters when the convoy was raided. No ships were damaged.