BITTER FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1942, Page 3

BITTER FIGHTING

IN PROGRESS AT SEBASTOPOL Russian Defences Penetrated at One Point BATTLES IN THE KHARKOV AREA COUNTER-ATTACKS BY SOVIET TROOPS LONDON, June 14. The heavy German attack on Sebastopol continues. Moscow says that after three days ’ fighting, the Germans have launched a general offensive. The enemy is supporting his tanks and infantry with masses of artillery and large forces of aircraft are bombing and machine-gunning the defenders. Front line despatches reaching Moscow report bitter hand-to-hand encounters in the trenches, but the Germans are being thrown back repeatedly. The Germans claim today to have penetrated the fortified zone in bitter infantry fighting. This is not officially confirmed, but a Moscow report states that after repeated onslaughts, the enemy broke into the defensive line in one small sector. Heavy losses were inflicted in men and material. An order of the day states: “Not a step back.” It is too early to foretell the outcome of the battle. In the Kharkov sector the Russians are stoutly defending their positions and are hitting back at the enemy with counterattacks. The Germans are throwing in reinforcements in an effort to break through.