Evening star., 1942-06-24
Nazi Tank Force
Pounding Info
Kharkov Front
Axis Bringing Heavy
Pressure Against
Besieged SevostopoI
By the Associated Press.
Y-~4


MOSCOW, June 24.-Reckless
charges by hundreds of Nazi
tanks followed by infantry have
driven a wedge into the Red
Army defenses on the Kharkov
front in the Ukraine 'and are
bringing overpowering strength
to bear against the far-outnum-
bered defenders of besieged
Sevastopol in the Crimea, the
Russians conceded today.
At a single point on the Kharkov
front, the Germans massed 200
tanks in an onslaught which be-
gan on June %, first anniversary
of the German invasion, and has
been increasing constantly in fury
and force, said Russian dispatches
from the battlefront.
At Sevastopol. the overwhelming
force of the German offensive was
indicated by a report that the Nazis
sent two divisions of infantry tup
to 10000 mem and numerous tanks
into the attack In a single narrow
strip.
The infantry crept forward un-
der camouf1age and through bitches
and shell craters behind the tanks,
but the Sevastopol garrison man
aged to establish hanking fire
that checked the enemy. Then a
counterattack forced the Germans
to retreat, said the Russian ac-
count.
(This apparently was on
peninsula in the bay north of
Sevastopol, where the German
high command claimed Russian
remnants" were annihilated)
At another point north Of Sevas-
topol the Russians mustered the
strnegth to recapture hilltop, but
the Germans still poured more men
and machines into the assault now
in its Goth day.
For the first time the Soviet In
formation Bureau told today OF
night combat about the Crimean
citadel. saying the outnumbered
Red Army men. marines. sailors and
guerrillas fought on against the
Germans through the hours of
darkness.
On the Kharkov front the story
was similar.
The Germans apparently are OBJ
livious to immense losses as they
throw in ever greater numbers of
tanks, planes and infantry. but they
still have not managed to achieve
any real success. declared Red Star,
offlcial army paper.
Nazis Use Mass Of Tanks.
The enemy is supporting his
troops with large numbers of air
craft, raiding many advanced lines
of our defenses and the adjoining
rear" said Red Star.
Our flyers patrolling over the
front area are repulsing the enemy
in the air. ;" They are greatly as
sisted by our reinforced anti-aircraft
defenses. '"'.
The Germans are using big tank
masses to clear the way for their
infantry.
Yesterday 200 enemy tanks fol-
lowed by several infantry units at
tempted to break through in one
sector.
Our troops stanchly met the
enemy's blow The experience of
previous battles with German tanks
helped them correctly to organize
anti-tark defense.
ic O nj hnoxyH
losses il war equipment and man
power, hut continues to increase the
weight Of attacks. and in one sector
succeeded in wedging somewhat into
our defense line.
simultaneously the Germans at
tempted to break through in other
sectors, bringing into action groups
of 20 to 30 tanks each.
They met with no success, how
ever, and after stiff engagements
only a few of our units were COM
PEELED to retreat and take up new
defense lines"
New Positions Taken.
Kharkov front divisions of Field
Marshal Gen. Fedor Won Book ad-
vanced yesterday against Russian
opposition and "our troops were
pressed back to new Positions" a
communique said.
Discounted in advance by the
Soviet Information Bureaus general
declaration that local Nazi successes
ARE not decisive regarding the out
come of the war" the action ap-
parently was in the Izyum-Barven-
kova sector, where the Germans
first countered Marshal Semeon
(See RUSSIA, Page A-6J