NAZI MOVE FAILS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20823, 30 June 1942, Page 5

NAZI MOVE FAILS

OUTFLANKING PLAN TWO DAYS FIGHTING REDS RETAKE POSITIONS (By Telegraph—Preßß Assn. —Copyright.) (3 p.m.) LONDON, June 28. A full-scale German attempt to outflank the Soviet southern flank in the Kupyansk sector failed after two days of violent fighting. Both the Russions and the Germans threw in masses of tanks and infantry covered by planes. Air battles raged almost incessantly. Infantrymen frequently fought hand to hand. The Germans first attacked on Friday morning, but were rolled back to their original positions during the evening. The Germans again attacked at dawn on Saturday under an intense artillery barrage and hurled in fresh reserves. Thev captured several villages, but the Russians counter-attack-ed and recaptured the lost positions. The battle continues.

A Soviet communique states: “Today our troops on the Kursk front were engaged in fighting the enemy, who launched an offensive. On the Sebastopol front our troops repelled enemy attacks.’ On other sectors no important changes occurred. During the week ended yesterday, 384 German aircraft were destroyed. We lost 111. It is officially announced in Berlin that Marshal Mannerheim has paid a return visit to Herr Hitler at his war headquarters- Marshal Goering also received Marshal Mannerheim The Moscow radio announced that a German punitive expedition executed 19 peasants with poison gas m the Kalinin area for aiding guerrillas. The victims, including a woman holding a baby* were found sitting in a cellar. A doctor reported that none of the bodies were wounded but the respiratory organs were, charred and the hearts appeared to be paralysed.