KERCH CLAIMED

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1942, Page 5

KERCH CLAIMED

GERMANS PREPARING To Cross to Caucasus [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Aisn.) LONDON, May 19. Commentators state they believe that- in the campaign of the Kerch Peninsula, General Von Manstein’s German Army suffered very heavy losses in men and material during the eleven-day battle for the Peninsula, and that considerable reorganisation will be necessary before any attempt can be made to cross the Kerch Strait to the Caucasus. German despatches state the Russian resistance on the Kerch Peninsula has stiffened since the arrival of fresh Russian units. Berlin admits the battle for Kerch was one of the bloodiest this year. A Moscow communique on luesday said fighting continued in the Kerch area.

RUSSIAN REPORT (Rec. 1.150 LONDON, May 19. A Moscow communique states: Intense fighting prevails in the area of the town of Kerch. German Report THREE RUSSIAN ARMIES DESTROYED. ALL COAST CAPTURED. LONDON, May 19. , The German High Command, in a special announcement, states: The German and Roumanian troops in the Crimea have reached the coast of Kerch along the entire length. The last fortified bridge heads on both sides of the town were taken by assault to-day, after stubborn resistance. The battle has now ended, and has resulted in the destruction of three Russian armies.

How Germans Advanced NEW WEAPONS AND NEW EXPLOSIVE. (Rec. 12.0) LONDON, May 19. A message from Berlin to Zurich, Switzerland, states: The German advance in Kerch Peninsula, has been due, chiefly, to the use of a new fifteen centimetre motorised anti-tank gun, and to a two-man anti-tank rifle. Both of these weapons are firing a new explosive.

German Armies Food

POWDERED MEAT AND VEGETABLES. (Rec. 8.10). LONDON, May 19. Stories told by both the Moscow and Oslo radios say that German troops are being nourished daily with powdered food. This is in order, it is stated, to relieve the supply routes. There are 140 different kinds of powder, including tomato, spinach, cheese, marmalade, meat, etc. The soldiers find that the powder, mixed with a little water, makes a tasty and nourishing sandwich spread.

DUTCH VOLUNTEERS FOR RUSSIAN FRONT. (Rec. 1.15) LONDON, May 20. The Paris radio stated: Eight hundred Dutch volunteers for the Russian front took the oath before Herr Heydrich and M. Messert. 150 Russians Shot GERMAN DOMINATION OPPOSED. (Rec. 1.15) LONDON. May 20. A Stockholm message from Berlin states that the Germans executed 150 Russians who terrorised other Russians in the Minsk area for submitting to German domination.