BACKS TO THE WALL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1942, Page 3

BACKS TO THE WALL

RUSSIANS FIGHTING MAGNIFICENTLY AT SEBASTOPOL Inner Defensive Line Unbroken GERMANS CONTINUING TO USE FRESH TROOPS NEW ENEMY THRUST ON KHARKOV FRONT LONDON, June 23. At Sebastopol the Russians are putting' up a great backs to the wall fight. In the last 24 hours there has been no relief, according to one report, from the danger of the German wedge driven into the Soviet defence line on Sunday. The Soviet Army newspaper “Red Star,” states, however, that the Russians have succeeded in closing the gap in their defences which had been forced two days ago on the northern sector at Sebastopol. The enemy reached a forward Soviet position, but has not penetrated into the depth of the defences. A correspondent of “Pravda” says that reinforcements are again arriving by sea. Still another message says the Germans are using fresh troops and are attacking strongly. The Germans are reported to have made advances in the northern and southern sectors. , The Soviet inner line remains unbroken. A “Red Star” correspondent says the fighting in a number of sectors is growing in intensity. Despite tremendous losses the Germans are increasing their attacks in an attempt to advance, The defence everywhere is marked by exceptional tenacity. The Germans are using fresh reserves and new groups of tanks to maintain the assault at the highest pitch of intensity. The battle is not yet over and the Russians are still hopeful. There is a tense situation in the Kharkov' sector. The Germans have opened up a new sector, hurling in tanks and. aircraft. They are said to have made some headway. A Kuibyshev message says that at one point the Russians successfully counter-attacked and drove the Germans back across a river believed to be the Donetz. They had forced a crossing on Saturday.