ENEMY WEDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24284, 27 May 1942, Page 3

ENEMY WEDGE

MENACE TO RUSSIANS

VON BOCK'S GRIM BID

GRAVEYARD OF TANKS I/ONIX)N, May 26 The Vichy radio, quoting a report from Berlin, says it is estimated that 400,000 Russians are encircled fcouth of Kharkov. Berlin spokesmen refer vaguely to Russians enveloped #nd isolated south of Kharkov, but, according to the Russians, no large jßuasian forces are seriously menttced, except in the Losovaya salient, .which would be enveloped if von Bock managed to drive home a ifcedge to Isyum. The Russians admit that von Bock frt first managed to drive a rather deep Ursdge into the Russian positions and jfchat repeated assault* carried his foregiost tanks perilously near the river, Irat the Russian anti-tank weapons and brdinary artillery destroyed the intruders and pressed the wedge outward. It is not clear whether the original Russian position hag been entirely restored. The Russians refer to the Barven-frova-Isyum sector as the scene of further heavy German attacks, showing fchat von Bock has not abandoned his purpose, in spite of the fact that this srea already has been the graveyard of hundreds of German tanks. Moscow says the Soviet ground troops |re getting good support from the Red {iir Force. The skies are never empty. JTroops, communications and aerodromes jire ceaselessly bombed, and enemy planes get a rough handling even' time jthey take the air. When the Soviet pilots run short of ammunition they use ramming tactics. They have also put a Sot of German tanks out of action. The Germans have replied by bringing up prack squadrons which fought in the Crimea. A Moscow communique says the German 23rd Reserve Tank Division has been withdrawn from the Kharkov battle after losing over half its machines and with many others needing repairs. The Russians say the enemy suffered heavy losses while counter-attacking on tte Kalinin front. ANNIHILATION ORDER TIMOSHENKO AT KHARKOV DEATH TO THE GERMAN ARMY LONDON, May 21 Pravda, the Moscow- newspaper, gives a dramatic account of the dawn attack which dealt the first blow in the Kharkov offensive. The story is told by Alexander Korneichuk and Vanda Vasilevsky. two of the foremost Soviet writers. '"'On a warm, starry night, officers and hundreds of thousands of men were drawn up to hear Marshal TimoBhenko's Order No. 3 read," the account says. "It read: 'I order our troops to launch a determined offensive against our worst enemy—the German Fascist Army. "'I order them to annihilate the enemy's manpower, destroy his war materials, and hoist the glorious Soviet banner over liberated towns and villages. On our fighting, comrades, on J°u and me,' depends whether our country will be free and independent, Or whether we will be slaves. We have entered a new period of the war for liberation of Soviet territory. To the battle, comrades!' "The final words were echoed by thousands of throats —'into the decide, ruthless battle.' "A few minutes later, in the dawn, a terrific artillery barrage opened. Barbed-wire defences were flattened in no time, and, in three hours, the artillery had effaced the Nazi defence constructions. Soviet planes —fighters and beavy bombers—roared over the battlefield. With grim, austere faces, the Bed Army nien began to advance. Sappers W already gone in to remove the enormous minefields which the Germans had 'aid around the towns. Sensing their Peril, the Germans began firing villages, and soon the sky was lurid with the Blow of burning buildings." tank driven into club MELBOURNE, May 20 , During the battle for the Netherfnds East Indies a Dutch armoured ~ ri gade captain converted the famous Club at Soebanc i"to a death trap for Japanese troops. A j Utc h officer who recently arrived in Australia said the brigade captain enraged when he was told that club had been occupied by Japantroops as their headquarters. ~ He ordered a native driver to drn ttank up the steps leading to the JPacious building, M said the officer» ai Hl as the tank thundered through rooms of the club its machine-guns *Pat fire j n a ]j directions It ploughed bloody trail through the rooms ovei rfes of Japanese, who were taken by surprise."