STILL IN BALANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1942, Page 3

STILL IN BALANCE

THE BATTLE FOR SEBASTOPOL German Claims of Progress Not Confirmed FIGHTING ON THE KHARKOV FRONT RUSSIAN ATTACKS IN SMOLENSK AREA LONDON, June 19. The great land and air battle for Sebastopol is still in the balance. The Germans claim to be closing in on the fortress and to have broken the defences to the north and reached a bay opposite the town of Sebastopol. Even if this report were true, the enemy would still have to follow the coastline for six miles to reach the town. Sheer cliffs drop straight down into the sea at this point and any advance would be under the fire of three fortresses guarding the entrance to the harbour. So far the German report is without confirmation. Reports from Russian sources state that all enemy efforts to break through have been repulsed. There is every indication that the battle is now near a terrific climax. ' On the Kharkov front a number of German boats were seen floating down river. The Russians waited until enemy troops were in midstream, when they launched a hurricane of artillery and machine-gun fire on them. Berlin announces new and violent Russian attacks on the Smolensk front, preceded by-heavy artillery fire and supported by tanks and bombers. The Germans claim that the attacks were repulsed.