DRIVEN INTO SEBASTOPOL DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1942, Page 3

DRIVEN INTO SEBASTOPOL DEFENCES

But Defenders Still Beating Off Attacks HEAVY RUMANIAN LOSSES IN RUSSIA SOME ENEMY WITHDRAWALS ON KHARKOV FRONT LONDON, June 22. Sebastopol, after nearly eight months of siege, is now facing its grimmest hour. A Soviet correspondent says the Germans have partially succeeded in driving a wedge into the Russian positions but many attacks were beaten off. Isolated forts on the west side of Sebastopol .Harbour are still holding out. The Russian newspaper “Izvestia” says that the Germans penetrated the defences at one point. After a tremendous air, bombardment they launched an attack by infantry who were wiped out, but they brought up fresh troops, driving a wedge into the defences of the fortress. The Rumanian Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief, General Antonescu, is reported to have stated that Rumanian losses in Russia in the last year were 157,000 killed, wounded and missing. Heavy fighting continues on the Kharkov front. The Moscow radio said that the Germans had withdrawn from some populated places. It is reported that 10 German divisions are doing their utmost to wrest an “anniversary” victory at Sebastopol, June 22, 194.1, being the date of the German attack on the U.S.S.R. Street fighting is going on in Bartenevka. Yesterday’s German communique claimed that the invaders had taken all the forts in the northern area before Sebastopol, especially the coastal forts.