STILL ADVANCING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 247, 29 July 1943, Page 3

STILL ADVANCING

THE RUSSIANS NORTH OF OREL. IMPORTANT HEIGHT TAKEN. HAND-TO-HAND CONFLICT. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright 1 (Roc. 11 a.m.) LONDON, July 28. The Moscow radio reports to-night that north of Orel Soviet troops are repelling counter-attacks and are continuing to advance. A Soviet detachment toolc an important height defended by strong German forces, who opened a terrific artillery fire. r .l lie Red Army stormed and captured the height after fierce hand-to-hand fighting. The attack was assisted by automatic riflemen, who bypassed the bill and attacked tlie enemy from the rear. The enemy launched a. series of coun-ter-attacks, but despite the numerical strength of the Germans the height remained in Soviet possession. -

“Sovieti troops in the direction of Orel to-day continued the offensive advance by from two and a-half to four miles and occupied 30 localities, including the railway station of Standvoi Kildodez, 11. miles south-east- of Orel,” states a Soviet communique..” In the Byelgorod direction, in the Donets Basin south-west of Krasnodar, there, was patrol activity. “On the Leningrad front there was intensive patrol activity and exchanges of artillery fire. -

Yesterday Soviet troons on all fronts destroyed or disabled 32 German tanks. In aerial engagements and bv antiaircraft fire 62 German planes were shot down.” —British Official Wireless. An earlier message 4 states: The heaviest lighting is reported due north or Orel. There the Russians are less than 30 miles from the city. The Germans are using many tanks and coun-ter-attacking in nil effort to halt the Russians. South of Orel Soviet pressure is particularly strong. East of Orel the Russians are within seven miles of the city, and in the north-east they are nine miles away.