STEADY HEADWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1943, Page 3

STEADY HEADWAY

IN RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE THRUSTS AROUND KHARKOV AND WEST OF OREL. MANY TOWNS AND VILLAGES RETAKEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, August 7. The successful development of the outflanking movement against Kharkov and further progress toward Bryansk is announced in tonight’s Soviet communique, which slates: —"The Russians in the Bryansk direction today continued the offensive and advanced 6J to 7f miles, and occupied more than 100 inhabited localities. In the Kharkov direction the Soviet troops overcame enemy resistance and continued successfully to develop the offensive, advanced 61 to 91- miles, and occupied more than 70 inhabited localities. The Russians appear to be making an encircling move against Kharkov rather than a direct onslaught. The Germans report a “pincer threat” also on the southern side of Kharkov. The localities captured in the Bryansk direction, included one 10 miles west of Orel and another 14 miles south-west of Krorny, and a railway station five miles south-west of Orel. In the Kharkov direction the large locality of Sennoye is mentioned, which is nearly 50 miles south-west of Byelgorod and 30 miles north-west of Kharkov. The other- places captured include Borisovka, about 25 miles west of Byelgorod, and Graivoron, about 45 miles west of Byelgorod and north-west of Kharkov. Graivoron was recaptured by the Russians during the last winter offensive, but was taken again in the Germans’ counter-offensive.

ENEMY SURPRISED. The Moscow “IzvestiaI'’ 1 '’ says that the Russians opened the attack on the Kharkov front quite unexpectedly and succeeded on some sectors in penetrating the German defences. Russian tanks, with the co-operation of artillery, poured through the gaps and cut German communications and occupied railway stations, disorganising the enemy’s rear. The Germans continue to offer stubborn resistance, clinging to every inch of ground and digging trenches along the railways. The Germans often pass over to counter-attacks. The Russians west of Orel, in spite of stiff resistance, are continuing to deal mighty blows against the Germans, and are methodically continuing their advance.

Tonight's communique also says: “On other sectors of the front the Russians fought on and held their positions, and engaged in patrol activity. Artillery and mortar fire exchanges took place. Yesterday on all fronts the Russians destroyed or disabled 43 German tanks, and 80 German planes were shot down.” Guerilla reports reveal that the Germans are carrying out a general civilian evacuation of the Smolensk area. A Soviet communique says that Russian planes bombed enemy military trains at the railway junctions of Kharkov and Bryansk. Direct hits smashed several' trains, and about 30 fires were started, many of which were accompanied by heavy explosions. The railway station at Mga, on the Leningrad front, was also effectively bombed.