RUSSIANS TAKE KEY POSITION

Southland Times, Issue 24755, 28 May 1942, Page 5

RUSSIANS TAKE KEY POSITION

BATTLE FOR KHARKOV (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 26. Moscow radio says that the Russians on the Kharkov front have captured an important key position after repulsing a German counter-attack. The battlefield is littered with German dead. Russian mortar units and Russian cavalry and infantry swooped on the enemy following a barrage and when the Germans saw their tanks set on fire they threw in their panzer forces in an attempt to relieve the situation. Russian tanks ultimately decided the issue. A Moscow communique deals with the fighting in the Isyum-Barenkova area, where a number of German tanks has been destroyed and on the Kalinin front where the Russians have repulsed an enemy attack and have killed 200 Germans.

A communique referring to the northwestern front says that the Russians in one day destroyed 14 blockhouses and 12 dug-outs and silenced a number of batteries. “The defenders of the Soviet in the south are smashing the German offensive on the Isyuum-Barenkova sector,” declares the Moscow radio. “The Germans are suffering heavy losses in this area, where they are using large quantities of tanks, artillery and planes. After an artillery barrage and mass bombing 150 German tanks attacked, followed by trench mortars and infantry. These attacks were repulsed. More than 1000 Germans were killed and many tanks and planes were destroyed. The Red Air Force is constantly attacking.”

BITTER FIGHTING The bitterness and intensity of the struggle on the Kharkov front surpasses any previous battles on the Eastern Front. The Germans, who at first described Marshal Timoshenko’s attack as a diversion against the German onslaught in the Crimea, have now no delusions that this is one of the greatest battles of the war. but say it may be over in seven days suggesting, of course, that it will result in their favour.

Reports from both sides, unfortunately, still do not name places except very vaguely. Both sides refer to fierce fighting on the Kharkov front, separately from the fighting in the Isyum-Barenkova sector. Both sides also refer to fighting southward of Kharkov for a river which the Russians admit is in the Isyum-Barenkova sector and which the Germans specifically name as the Donetz. Berlin radio claimed tonight that this is one of the greatest encirclements of the war. “The German forces which surrounded the Russian left wing are now sweeping back westward around the trapped armies.” it stated.

GERMAN CONCENTRIC ATTACK A German High Command report broadcast from Berlin described how the German troops and their allies yesterday made a concentric attack against the encircled Russians, thus reducing the pocket. The report added that the Russians had several times attempted to break out. but had been repulsed. The report also stated that the Germans today further pressed back the Russians and occupied 17 places, making 47 freed from the Russians in two days. This indicates that the operations extend over a wider area than was hitherto supposed. Russian news from this sector is scarcer than German news but the report of the encirclement is strenuously denied. The newspaper Pravda states that the Soviet positions are strongly held. Soviet guards, artillerymen and mortar crews are bearing the greater part of the burden. The Russians are benefiting from the mass production of mortars, including those of the largest calibre, during the winter.