BIG GERMAN FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1942, Page 4

BIG GERMAN FORCE

EMPLOYED ON KHARKOV FRONT SAVAGE FIGHTING CONTINUED AT SEBASTOPOL. RUSSIANS ATTACKING HEAVILY IN NORTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 15. “The battle on the Kharkov front is becoming more violent,” says the Moscow radio. “The enemy is sustaining heavy losses. His tank columns, each consisting of ninety to 120 tanks, are falling back. General von Bock is reported to be deploying | thirty divisions around Kharkov, with another thirty in reserve—evidence that Caucasian oil is Germany’s -first major objective this year.” A German communique states: “We annihilated or took prisoner the remnants of the beaten Russian-army eastwards of Kharkov.” Hand to hand fighting continues in many parts of the perimeter defences before Sebastopol. A German High Command claim that the Russians have been thrown out of several strongly fortified positions and Axis infantry thrust deeply Into the Russian defence system is not confirmed. A Moscow report states that the Soviet troops defending Sebastopol have been reinforced by a large army of citizens, including women snipers. While German attacks against Kharkov and Sebastopol have continued with increasing intensity, the Red Army is again attacking in the Volkhov sector, between Leningrad and Lake Ilmen. Berlin says that the fighting here is equal in intensity to that of last winter, when Russian attacks caused the German lines to bulge, but not to break. A Helsinki message says German and Italian troops have been attacking Leningrad for two days from land and sea. Assault barges are being used to land ffroops behind the Russian lines.