DRIVE ON KHARKOV

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 June 1942, Page 4

DRIVE ON KHARKOV

SLACKENED FOR MOMENT FURIOUS FIGHTING IN CRIMEA. MANY AXIS ATTACKS BEATEN BACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, June 17. While there are indications that for the moment the drive on Kharkov has slackened, there has been no let up in the terrific German attacks on Sebastopol, where the approaches are littered with tanks wrecked by the Russian artillery. The Berlin radio claims that the Germans have captured Fort Siberia, situated on Sebastopol’s outer defences. The "Red Star” says the Axis forces six times attempted to gain control of an important highway on the Sebastopol front but were repulsed. Five attacks on Sebastopol's southern defences were also beaten off, despite a total German disregard for losses. Balaclava is still firmly in Russian hands. The effect of Russian commando landings in the Crimea is not yet ascertainable. Four landings were made —at Eupatoria, Yalta, the Kerch Peninsula and Mariupol. The Vichy radio declared that the Russians, after landing in the Crimea, obtained footholds at two points. General von Bock’s seven-day offensive against Kharkov appears to be petering out, although the “Red Star” reports that fierce fighting continues in all sectors of this front and adds that incessant German attacks failed to achieve anything. Russian counter-at-tacks in some sectors obliged the Germans to abandon several points which they had begun to fortify.