RUSSIANS PUSH FORWARD

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24021, 9 August 1943, Page 5

RUSSIANS PUSH FORWARD

New Offensive On Kharkov Front ADVANCE BEYOND OREL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 8. A Russian communique on Friday announced: “A new offensive on the Kharkov front is well under way. In three days the Russians have advanced up to 37 miles, breaking through the German defences on a front of more than 40 miles. More than 150 places have been liberated.” Successful development of the outflanking movement gainst Kharkov and further progress towards Bryansk were announced in Saturday night’s Soviet communique, which said: “The Russians in the Bryansk direction to-day continued the offensive and advanced six and a half miles to seven and a half miles, occupying more than 100 inhabited localities. In the Kharkov direction, Soviet troops overcame enemy resistance and continued successfully to develop the They advanced six and a half miles to nine and a half miles and occupied more than 70 inhabited localities.” The localities captured in the Bryansk direction included one 10 miles west of Orel and another 14 miles» Kromy, and a railway station five miles south-west of Orel. (The capture of Kromy, 25 miles south-west of Orel, was reported earlier.) 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. Other places captured in eluded Borisovka, about 25 miles west ofßyelgorodandGralvoron, which is about 45 miles west of west of Kharkov. Graivoron was recaptured by the Russians during their last winter offensive, but was taken again in the Germans’ counter-offensive.

Inhabited places occupied by the Russians in the Kharkov offensive include Tomarovka and the railway station at Kasachyalopan, 19 miles south-west of Byelgorod. Five other railway stations have been captured on the Kharkbv front, including ZolocheV, 25 miles north-west of Kharkov. "Izvestia” says: “The Russians who opened the Kharkov attack quite unexpectedly succeeded in some sectors in penetrating the German defences. Russian tanks, in co-operation with artillery, poured through the gaps. They cut German communications, occupied railway stations, and disorganised the enemy’s rear. “The Germans continue to offer stubborn resistance, clinging to every inch of ground and digging trenches along railways. The Germans often pass over to counter-attacks. “Guerrilla reports reveal that the Germans are carrying out a general civilian evacuation of the Smolensk area.” A Soviet communiqie says that Russian aeroplanes bombed enemy tary trains at the railway junctions of Kharkov and Bryansk. 'Direct hits smashed several trains. About 30

fires were started, many of them accompanied by heavy explosions. The railway station at Mga, on the Leningrad front, was also effectively bombed. Saturday’s communique said: "On other sectors of the front the Russians fought on, 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 aeroplanes were shot down.” Correspondents report that Russian armies are surging westward from Orel. Their motorised infantry is reported to be 10 miles along the road to Bryansk. Out in front of the Russian forces the German troops are under a merciless air bombardment. The German lines south-west of Orel show distinct signs of caving in. Fighting is reported near Karachev, 25 miles from Bryansk. Russian Power Since the Germans began to retreat pell-mell from Orel and Byelgorod, the Russian High Command for the first time has really shown what powerful air forces it has in reserve. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press says that the German forces fleeing west have been unable to reform fresh lines and turn to meet the pursuing enemy because the Russian High Command has unleashed more powerful air fleets against the Germans than any used during the two years of war. The Russians, over one six-mile sector alone, carried out more than 2000 sorties. Indeed, the Red Air Force’s efforts both on the Orel and Byelgorod fronts are turning the re-, treat into a rout. A German High Command statement quoted by the Oslo radio said: “The Russian attacks continue to increase in fury from hour to hour in the OrelByelgorod sector. Wave after wave of infantry is hammering the German lines, supported by numerous tanks and aeroplanes. The attacks are mainly directed against-the German defence line west of Orel, which was constructed a fortnight ago.” The Moscow radio, in a special announcement, said that the Russians between July 5 and August 5 killed 100.000 officers and men, disabled 4605 tanks, destroyed 1623 guns, and 11.000 lorries, and shot down 2492 aeroplanes. They also captured 521 tanks. 875 guns, 2521 machine-guns, and 352 supply dumps, and took prisoner 12,418 Germans. To-day’s German communique claims that the Russians, during the great battle which began on July 5, lost 7847 tanks. 3083 guns. 1620 mortars, and 3731 aeroplanes, Tho Berlin radio said; “In the world’s greatest battles from July 5 to August 5, the Russians lost more than 580,000 killed, wounded, and taken prisoner.”

RED ARMY’S ADVANCE

“Kharkov Now Outflanked” RUSSIANS CUT RAILWAYS (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 8. The Germans are reeling before tne Red Army’s two drives towards Kharkov and Bryansk. The capture Of Graivoron means that Kharkov is already outflanked from the north. It is not clear whether the drive from Byelrorod, which has brought the Russians to points 15 and la miles from Kharkov, is a separate thrust from .the .'push ,which captured Graivoron. , A Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says the German Command is preparing to leave Kharkov almost at any moment. The Russians, by taking Zolochev, have cut the railway running northwest from Kharkov to Sumy, thereby destroying one of the main means of escape. The Columbia Broadcasting System s Moscow correspondent says that two of the three railways leading from Kharkov are cut. Trainloads of Germans are leaving the city. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says the Russians are only 26 miles from Bryansk. M. Jean Paquis, on the Paris radio, said: “The Russians, following the capture of Orel, are hurling in wave after wave of massed tank forces. They will not cease their attacks, because they are aiming to occupy the Ukraine before the harvest.” Captain Sertorius, the Berlin radio commentator, said: “The enemy has increased his pressure in the Byelgorod area. “The Russians at Chuguyev (east of Kharkov) have launched an attack on the Germans’ Upper Donets positions. It is obvious that this action is coordinated with that in the Byelgorod area. Both reflect the strategic idea of a pincer movement against Kharkov."

THE BATTLE FOR OREL

“ONE OP GREATEST IN HISTORY” DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY GERMANS LONDON, All*. «. “Pravda" says ttiat the battle for Orel was one of the greatest in the history of all warfare. The Germans suffered heavy losses. German prisoners declared that their divisions melted away like sugar in boiling water. Hitler, incensed at the Germans* failure, is reported to have removed several generals, including the commander of the 2nd Panzer Army, Colonel-General von Schnitzel. With the exception of Stalingrad, there has been nothing to equal the concentration of huge forces on the narrow sector at Orel. German prisoners said they had been told that if Orel fell the whole front would be threatened. Three Russian rifle divisions which were the first to penetrate to Orel are already west of the city in hot pursuit of the fleeing Germans, whose flank defence on the line of retreat southwest of Orel was broken from inside by the Russians passing through the city. Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow says: “The roads west and south-west of Orel are littered with burning German lorries and corpses. Russian aeroplanes, in overwhelming strength, art taking a heavy toll of the fleeing enemy. “Orel itself is still burning and the air is filled with hot ashes. The emaciated population emerged from basements and hide-outs in the surrounding country to welcome the liberators. Russian tanks passed through the city festooned with branches and flowers. “A leaflet appeared on walls and on telegraph poles before the city was fully captured. It stated: ‘Orel is ours. Red Army men, do not give the enemy any rest. Beat the Fascist scoundrels to death. Revenge your women and children. Forward to the west.’ "Orel’s population is now repairing bridges, extinguishing fires and catching traitors, and mothers are searching for sons and daughters in the cellars used by the Gestapo. “Orel itself suffered badly. The Germans did all that was possible to wreck the town before the evacuation. All the important buildings were dynamited and set on fire. The State Bank and other buildings are still burning. The Germans in the last 10 days, fearing that defeat was near, rounded up several thousand more civilian? into captivity." (The Moscow radio said that the Germans killed about 15,000 residents of Orel during the occupation)