SECOND STALINGRAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1943, Page 4

SECOND STALINGRAD

POSSIBLE IN OREL SALIENT WITH CUTTING OF VITAL RAILWAY. LONDON “TIMES” SUGGESTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. “The Times’” suggests that the cutting of the Orel-Bryansk Railway—the Germans’ main lifeline for reinforcements and supplies to the Orel front —gives the Russians every chance of turning Orel into another Stalingrad. RED ARMY APPARENTLY ACROSS RAILWAY. OUTCOME OF BATTLE SEEMS ASSURED. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 20. While the Russians are continuing to close in on the Orel pocket, tonights Moscow communique announced the capture of the f important town of Mtsensk, north-east of Orel, also the occupation of 20 inhabited localities east, of Orel, including the railway station of VorosTiilovo. Advances of 31 to 8 miles on the Orel front are recoiled It is also officially announced in Moscow that the Russians have captured Goroclische 3 miles south of the Bryansk-Orel railway. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the capture of Gorodische indicates that the Red Army, advancing from the north, has already cut the vital OrelBryansk railway The Russian spearhead, advancing on a 20-mile front, captured Sichy, 20 miles east-north-east of Orel. The converging arms of the Russian pincers, from north and south of Orel, now leave the Germans only a 55-mile gap at the western end of the bulge by which to escape, says Reuter. The Russian forces from the northern wedge are advancing rapidly on Bolkhov, which the Russians driving from the south have reached a point 37 miles from Orel. The British United Press says villages on the Orel front are constantly' changing hands, but the Germans, generally, have been unable thus far to slow down the momentum of the Russians’ drive. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent declares that the outcome of the Orel battle, with the Russians embracing Orel in their arms, driving from north and south, appears assured, although the closing of the pocket is not yet in sight.