RUSSIANS HOLD FIRM IN NORTH

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23998, 13 July 1943, Page 5

RUSSIANS HOLD FIRM IN NORTH

(N.ZPA.-8.0.W.)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. The Russians are holding the Germans in their drive in th® Orel sector, but in the south, round Byelgorod, the Germans have advanced about 20 miles to the north. The Russians hav® brought up reserves and are counter-attacking.

The German wedges near Byelgorod are in danger of being cut off by mass attacks of Soviet tanks, artillery, and aircraft, which are growing in weight and intensity, says a Moscow message, which adds that dispatches from the front say that the wedges are of considerable width and depth, and all t|ie Get* man attempts to increase them have failed.

Due north of Byelgorod 500 tanks, headed by Tigers, attacked on a narrow front, and after an exhausting three-hour battle captured a populated point. While the enemy regrouped his depleted forces behind a screen of aerial bombs, masses of Soviet tanks struck a crushing counter-blow and recaptured the settlement. The German tanks withdrew under an air cover, but Soviet fighters were brought up and overwhelmed the German aircraft. Then Soviet bombers attacked the German armoured camp, and disorganised masses of tanks, caterpillar* guns, and motorised infantry.

This happened at' the apex of one of the wedges, and was one of the most severe tactical set-backs for the Germans Since the beginning of the offensive.^

In the cramped space the Germans are fighting at a serious disadvantage, while the Russians enjoy freedom of manoeuvre. Another Moscow message says that the Russians are retaining mastery of the air in the Kursk salient, in spite of German aerial reinforcements. According to Soviet communiques so far received the Germans have lost in the seven days’ fighting at least 2500 tanks and 1068 aeroplanes. "Hitler is losing an average of one tank every three to four minutes, and also approximately eight aeroplanes every hour,” says the Moscow radio. “Never before have the German generals seen equipment go so fast.” Last night’s Russian communique says: “Soviet troops in the Orel-Kursk and Byelgorod directions continued to repel the attacks of enemy tanks and infantry. Our troops destroyed or damaged 162 tanks. In aerial engagements and by anti-aircraft fire 31 German aeroplanes were shot down.” A supplement to the communique describes the continued holding of the German attacks on the Orel-Kursk Sector and the stubborn engagements in the Byelgorod sector. “In the Orel-Kursk sector, the enemy having failed to achieve success during an all-day offensive, .attempted today again to break through , otif defence, using large forces,” it says. “All the attacks were frustrated, and in the evening the enemy was repelled to his initial positions, leaving many disabled and destroyed tanks. During today’s fighting on this sector alone the enemy lost over 2000 officers and rnsn.

"In another sector of the same front, a large force Of Soviet aircraft dealt a blow against an enemy tank division, disabling several dozen tanks and dispersing and partly annihilating: two German infantry regiments, and also dislodging the enemy from WO localities. '

“In the Byelgorod sector our troop* fought stubborn engagements, holding their positions against attacks' front several directions, and knocking out 84 tanks and five armoured cars, as well as smashing 14 guns. The Soviet Air Force subjected enemy concentrations and communications to incessant bombing, inflicting heavy losses.” The Moscow radio officially announced that on Saturday night Soviet aircraft bombed the railway junction of Byelgorod, where there wag a large concentration of enemy trains/ Many fires broke out, and the pilots observed many explosions, one of which was a huge one. All the Soviet aeroplanes returned. “Pravda” says that instead of attacking communication lines, railSWSr junctions, and aerodromes, as in previous offensives, the Luftwaffe is now almost exclusively concerned with . the battlefield. The Germans are attaching all types of bombers and fighters to ground units, but the enemy’s plafis are being frustrated, and he is losing the ■ ■ It adds that hundreds of,aeroplanes are fighting over the Orel-Kursk-Byelgorod front. At noon -On Saturday 500; Russian and German aeroplanes were observed simultaneously over one sector.