New Red Advance Threatens Kharkov

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 198, 21 August 1943, Page 5

New Red Advance Threatens Kharkov

INFANTRY INVADES GAPS

Spectacular Break-Through In South-West Sector

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.— Rec. noon.)

LONDON, August 20. In a spectacular break-through in the sector south-west of Kharkov and west of Smiyev the Russians have narrowed the escape corridor southwards from Kharkov between the converging arms of the Kussian belt around the city to 1 3 miles.

The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the new advance has brought the Russians several miles nearer Kharkov s southern suburbs, which means the city is now dangerously threatened from the north, east and south. This latest Russian advance has also brought another great advantage—the last single railway line southwards and south-westwards to Losavaya and Dnepropetrovsk is now within range of the Red Army s heavy artillery. The Russians are fiercely pounding the line from the ground and air.

Terrific Bombardment Batters Huns

Describing how the Russians effected the newest advance, the British United Press says the Germans, after the Russians overran Smiyev, retreated to strongly-prepared positions farther west. The Russians blanketed these with terrific artillery and air bombardment. Red Army tanks followed up with repeated attacks which so battered the remaining defences that the infantry were able to pour through the gaps created.

Russians and Germans in the Bryansk sector, according to a Moscow correspondent's accounts, have now apparently settled down to bitter, close-quarter fighting in the swampy ground east of Bryansk, where tanks are almost useless. Medium artillery, mortars and machine-guns principally are being employed, although even this is difficult to move up. Russian sappers are bjiilding roads of logs.