SOVIET AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1943, Page 4

SOVIET AIMS

IN THE OREL SALIENT OFFENSIVE POSITION OBSCURE IN DETAILS THREAT TO VITAL RAILWAY. GERMANS REPORT ATTACKS FURTHER SOUTH. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, July 18. Although it is not clear how near the Russians are to the great German bastion at Orel, messages from Moscow indicate that the threat to the Orel-Briansk railway from the north is growing, and that to the east the Russians may have approached to a distance of 15 miles from the city. Meanwhile, from south of the Orel salient, the Russians have moved forward to regain what ground they lost in the German offensive. It is not yet clear whether the Russians for the time being aim at more than spoiling the German offensive by knocking out the Orel salient, which is the base of its northern prong. There is no mention from Moscow of the strong attacks which the German High Command today announced the Russians began, after a violent bombardment, on the Mius and Donetz front —that is, from the Sea of Azov northwards. The Germans said the Russians succeeded in driving wedges.

DRIVE ON OREL PRESSED FROM THREE SIDES. RUSSIANS IN SIGHT OF AXIS KEY POSITIONS. (Received This Day, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 18. Both Russian and German dispatches state that fierce fighting is going on around Orel. Moscow sources state that heavy German counter-attacks on the southern end of the Orel front during the past 24 hours have been repelled and that the Russians are now in sight cf some German key positions. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the Orel area is being turned into a huge salient, which will leave the city in a narrow cul de sac, as the Russians elsewhere keep up their drive. The Russians tonight, which is the sixth clay of the Russian offensive, stand about 15 miles east, 20 miles west and 35 to 45 miles south of Orel. The Russians forced the river and established bridgeheads north-west of the town on the western flank of the gap which has been torn in the German defences. 'The “Red Star” states that bridgeheads have been established for a considerable distance and, despite a constant stream of German reinforcements, the Red Army has widened the passage. Reuter adds that the Russians are also nearing the Orel-Briansk railway and reconnaissance and shock troops are already attacking supply and troop trains on this railway. Two most mobile struggles are going on for Orel. The Russians north-west and west of Orel are now within an area of hundreds of square miles in which many individual battles are in progress as the Russians mop up centres of resistance. The Germans are striving to fill up the gaps in their defences, using medium tanks. Tigers are being used very sparingly. An additional Russian drive from the south may be expected, since the position at Kursk has been fully restored. Today’s German communique states that the Russians launched an attack on the Kuban, Mius and Donetz fronts and adds that all these attacks were I frustrated.

A. Soviet communique states that today the Russians on the Orel front continued their offensive, overcoming counter-attacks and advanced 2J to 4 miles. In the Byelgorod direction, intensified reconnaissance activity took place. Yesterday the Russians on the Orel front destroyed or damaged 18 tanks. 20 armoured cars and 137 enemy planes.