SOVIET PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1943, Page 3

SOVIET PROGRESS

IN OREL OFFENSIYE FURTHER CONSIDERABLE ADVANCE. GERMANS STILL THROWING IN REINFORCEMENTS. LONDON. July 26. The Russians are making' good progress in their Orel offensive. They have pushed forward another three to six miles and liberated more than 70 towns and villages. It appears obvious that the Germans are reluctant to give' up the Orel struggle. New divisions are still coming in. The 20th Tank Division and the 11th Infantry Division were smashed up north of Orel, but two tank and three infantry divisions have arrived to replace them. One infantry division was thrown into battle yesterday straight from the march. The British United Press says that the Germans are still counter-attack-ing, but now lack the punch necessary to hold back the Russians.

LATEST GAINS SOVIET OFFICIAL REPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY. July 26. The Russians maintained their progress towards Orel today, according to a Soviet communique, which states: “Soviet troops in the Orel direction continued their offensive and advanced three to six miles and occupied over 70 localities. In the Byelgorod direction, reconnaissance activities took place. On some sectors of this front fighting of local importance took place, and our troops improved their positions somewhat. In the South Donetz Basin, south of Izyum and south-west of Voroshilovgrad there was intensified reconnaisance activity. Yesterday our troops on all fronts destroyed or damaged 52 enemy tanks and 57 enemy planes were shot down.”