RED OFFENSIVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 133, 8 June 1942, Page 6

RED OFFENSIVE

LENINGRAD FRONT

MAY EXTEND ALL ALONG LINE

iß.v Teleyrap!)—Press Association — Copyright.) (Reo. 2 p.m.) LONDON, June 7. -'". The Germans admit powerful Russian attacks on the Leningrad front, which neutral correspondents believe to be a prelude to a general Russian offensive on this front, anticipating a German offensive which is expected at any moment. .■ . . ; • ; ' • Violent air battles are being fought out over Sebastopol as a' result of the new German drive against the base. Russian Stormoviks are pounding German mechanised units which are moving up on the stronghold. The "Red Star" reports that masses of German bombers are indiscriminately attacking Sebastppol, but the electricity and water supplies are undamaged and communications are intact. No important military objectives were hit. , Twenty-six German planes have been shot down in this area in j the past.three days. A German spokesman claims German successes in the Volkhov area. He says that despite floods and swamps the Germans gained territory and cut! off a substantial Russian force. (Rec. 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 7. A Soviet communique states:— I "The enemy has been repulsed with heavy losses after three days of serious fighting on the Sebastopol front. Elsewhere there Were local engagements and reconnaissance activity. "During tlie week ending June 6 the Germans lost 528 planes and we lost 151." .. - A supplementary communique states: "Soviet flyers on June 6 destroyed or damaged ten tanks, 60 lorries, and other armaments, and routed and partly annihilated three infantry companies. . Jn a sector on the northwestern front" a Soviet unit dislodged the enemy from two localities, routed two German battalions and a platoon of Danish volunteers, and took prisoners and booty. One Red Army unit on the Kalinin front in the past ten days killed over 700 Germans, while 400 enemy dead were left on the battlefield after an engagement on the Bryansk front. .

"Partisans in the Leningrad district in one month killed over 2000 Germans, destroyed 18 tanks, blew up six ammunition dumps; four oil stores, and derailed four military trains. —8.0. W.

TRAGEDY AT AUCKLAND

ASSAULT, FIRE, & DROWNING

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 7. A series, of tragic incidents on Saturday night began with an assault with a poker and the burning of a house at Ponsonby and ended with the drowning of a woman at Northcote. The woman was Miss Edith Atford. aged 36, who lived with her mother, Mrs. Ellen May Atford, at Ponsonby. where the fire occurred. Mrs. Atford was alone in the house with her daughter when she was struck on the head with a poker. She ran to a neighbour's house for protection, and while she was there her house became on fire. There was no trace of Miss Atford, and for a while it was feared she was in the flames. The fire badly j damaged the house, and because of the ] strong odour it is believed kerosene j had been sprinkled inside. The fire brigade quickly had the fire under | control.

Later Miss Atford's body was found in the harbour.