THREAT TO BRYANSK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1943, Page 4

THREAT TO BRYANSK

RUSSIAN CONVERGING ATTACKS CLIMAX IN KHARKOV BATTLE. GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. The Russians are only 19 miles east of the big German base at Bryansk. Leaving burning Karachev behind them, they are advancing on a 70 mile front. Their right wing is converging from the northwest and north, along the MoscowBryansk and Viazma-Bryansk railways, with the spearhead 30 to 40 miles from the city, and their left wing is moving towards the Bryansk--Kharkov railway now at a point 30 miles from Bryansk. Meanwhile the Kharkov battle has reached its climax. With very heavy fighting in all sectors, the Russians today made little territorial progress in 'any direction. The Germans have brought up reserves and are trying to stem the Russian advance by a scries of concentrated counter-attacks, accompanied by countless lesser drives. Their attempts to wrest the initiative are being frustrated, but the Russians are moving more slowly. “The Times” Stockholm correspondent says everything indicates that the reinforced Germans, who have now been driven to the outskirts of Kharkov, are determined to stand fighting. One of the principal German counterattacks was directed against the ten miles of the railway to Poltava which the Russians captured last Wednesday, but there is no evidence that they are likely to dislodge the Russians. Red Army units forced the River i Donetz near Zmiev and captured three i villages on the right bank. Tonight’s Soviet communique states the Russians, in the Bryansk direction, advanced five to nine miles and occupied over 130 inhabited localities, including Zhizdra. Places occupied also include Malyeluki, which is Similes west of Karachev. The Russians advanced five to seven miles from the Demensk direction and occupied over 30 inhabited localities, including Tserkoushchina, ten miles south-west of Demensk. The Russians in the Kharkov area beat off German counter-at-tacks.

MANY GERMANS PROBABLY ENCIRCLED. AS RESULT OF CAPTURE OF KARACHEV. (Received This Day, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. The occupation of Karachev has severed the last line of escape for the Germans in the Orel salient, says the Associated Press Moscow correspondent. The size of the encircled enemy forces cannot immediately be estimated, but earlier dispatches indicated that the Ger-

mans failed to bring out large numbers of men before Karachev was cut off.

The Exchange Telegraph’s Moscovz correspondent says the Germans are preparing to stand on the Desna River. They are feverishly fortifying the approaches to the river and its banks. It is a race between the Red Army and the German engineers, with the chances on the side of the Red Army.