GREAT EXTENSION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1943, Page 4

GREAT EXTENSION

OF FIGHTING ON EAST FRONT ENTIRELY AT INITIATIVE OF RUSSIANS. ENEMY LAND & AIR FORCES HARD PRESSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 19. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says the active battle front in Russia is being greatly extended, and whether the operations are serious or merely diversionary, they are undertaken entirely on Russian initiative. The whole southern front, from Sukhinichi to the Kuban, has become lively, but the heaviest fighting remains around Orel.

The Russians’ advance is now necessarily slow, because they are up against the especially strong prepared positions which the Germans constructed during the first winter of the war and improved throughout the second winter, to defend Orel itself and the vital Orel-Bryansk Railway. The Russians, although fighting hard and making headway, appear to be regrouping for another determined onset. Not until preparations are complete and the main Russian artillery has been brought to bear, can another jerk forward be expected, comparable to last week’s. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says it is estimated that the Germans, in the first week of the Russian offensive, lost nearly 30,000 killed, over 2500 tanks destroyed or disabled and about 700 planes shot down. The Moscow radio stated that the German Command had transferred 1,000 planes from as far as France and Austria in a desperate attempt to gain air supremacy over the Orel sector. Wave after wave of the Luftwaffe was going, into action for the eighth day in succession.

ATTACK ON OREL REGARDED AS IMMINENT. RED ARMY BREAKING INTO OPEN COUNTRY. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 19. The thrust against Orel, which died down somewhat yesterday, was renewed today with greater strength than previously, says the British United Press Moscow correspondent. An attack against Orel itself is regarded as imminent. Red Army mobile units, swinging far ahead of the Russian forces, have cleared the way to numerous German main strongholds before the city, despite heavy rain falling on the battlefield. The strength of the Russian attacks has taken the Red Army forces clear of the forests where they have been fighting into open fields, rolling country and hills, although these are intersected by numerous streams, rivers and ravines. The Russians, in one river valley, after bitter fighting, cleared a wide area and established a Strong bridgehead, from which they are preparing to storm their main objective. Whether this is Orel itself is not known. , A “Pravda” front line dispatch says the Russians in the lower reaches of the River Orel, entered a number of villages on the heels of the retreating Germans. According to the National Broadcasting Corporation’s Moscow correspondent, the Russians have pushed to within twelve miles of Orel from the south-west. Seven German divisions are now in danger of being cut off. The Moscow radio stated that the Germans on the Orel front, fearing another encirclement like that of Stalingrad, are constantly bringing up reserves for counter-attacks. During one of these the Russians wiped out 500 men and captured a considerable quan- ’ tity of booty. The Russians are sys- ■ tematically penetrating the enemy i lines, cutting communications and dividing and annihilating units.

GOOD PROGRESS MADE BY RUSSIANS IN OREL SECTOR. MANY TOWNS AND VILLAGES CAPTURED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, July 19. Tonight’s Moscow communique reports that the Russians have continued their advance in the Orel sector. Twelve German counterattacks were thrown back during the day with heavy losses to the enemy. To the north of Orel, another 70 populated places have been captured. To the east 40 more and to the south 20 more have been taken, including an important railroad station. Yesterday 72 German tanks were destroyed or damaged and 97 planes shot down.