HEROIC DEFENDERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1942, Page 3

HEROIC DEFENDERS

OF SEBASTOPOL FORTS FIGHTING TO THE LAST. MAGNIFICENT FAREWELL MESSAGE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 29. A supplement to the Moscow communique indicates the desperate nature of the fighting round Sebastopol, where it is stated the Germans continue their attempts to break the resistance of the heroic defenders, some of whom find themselves thrown entirely on their own resources, by flinging into the unceasing battle great numbers of tanks supported by planes. One Red Army man himself destroyed three tanks with an anti-tank gun. At another point, a small group of 13 Russians were surrounded by tanks, but they put three out of action and regained their own lines without the loss of a man. The Germans, who used several divisions, lost 1500 men killed in futile all-day attempts to break through the north-east sector of Sebastopol yesterday, according to an agency message from Moscow. Numerous attempts to

force a way through on other sectors were also repulsed. The Moscow radio says that the enemy are still bringing up fresh reinforcements, and quotes a message that typifies the spirit of the defenders. The message came from a small force surrounded by the enemy. “We will fight on till the last shell,” they said. “Please have the Soviet batteries fire on us as soon as the Germans storm the fort.” As an instance of the fierceness of the fighting round Sebastopol, it is stated that in June alone 50,000 Germans and Rumanian troops were killed or wounded and 200 tanks and hundreds of planes were destroyed. More than 50 trainloads of bombs were dropped on the city.