NAZI ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1942, Page 3

NAZI ATTACKS

SAID TO BE GAINING IN WEIGHT USE OF “SUPER-HEAVY” ARTILLERY. RUSSIANS FIGHTING BACK FEROCIOUSLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 16. The German offensive on the Kharkov front is steadily gaining weight. The Germans, in addition to throwing in a huge new weight of men and metal against Sebastopol, are now, it is claimed, using “super-heavy” artillery, which is capable of dealing with the Russian rock and concrete fortifications. Sebastopol’s defenders are fighting back with ferocious determination, bombarding the Germans from caverns hewn in the cliffs, or sallying out in local counter-attacks to exact the maximum toll for each German move. A report from Moscow tonight reveals that Russian commandos, including sailors, marines, and soldiers, are also participating in Sebastopol’s defence. The Black Sea fleet, it is reported, swept in and bombarded positions, sending over a heavy barrage and inflicting severe losses. Planes from the aircraft-carrier Stalin are assisting land-based planes in fighting off incessant German raids on the city and its outer defences. Fierce air duels rage throughout the day and night. According to the Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” the Germans are employing 1500 planes in the Crimea. Yesterday, in one small sector of the perimeter alone they dropped 1000 bombs. They average 1000 flights daily over the city itself. A great part of the city continues

to pump life blood in the form, of food, munitions and electric power to the forces manning the defences. These anonymous heroes, the citizens of Sebastopol, carry on with unruffled nerves, even very old men, armed to the teeth with rifles and grenades, are keeping the lines of communication open, putting out fires and removing land-mines from the city’s streets. The German offensive on the Kharkov front is clearly serious. Marshal Timoshenko’s forces so far seem successfully to be absorbing a rapid succession of armoured punches. German failure, or even a stalemate here, may profoundly influence the chances of success of the drive against Rostov, and Field Marshal von Bock is sparing nothing to achieve his objective. The Russians say he is suffering severe losses, notably 190 tanks in the past three days.