THREAT TO OREL

Evening Star, Issue 24920, 19 July 1943, Page 3

THREAT TO OREL

RUSSiAHS AGAIN MOVE FORWARD ALL LOST GROUND REGAINED (Eec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 18. Although it is not clear how near tho Russians are to the great German bastion of Orel, messages from Moscow indicate that the threat to the OrelBryansk railway from the north is growing, and to the east the Russians may have approached to within 15 miles of the city. Meanwhile from the south of the Orel salient the Russians have moved forward to regain what ground they lost in the German offensive. It is not yet clear whether the Russians for the time being aim- at more than spoiling the German offensive by knocking out the Orel salient, which is the base of its northern prong. There is no mention from Moscow of the strong attacks which the German High Command to-day announced that the Russians began after a violent bombardment on the Mius and Donetz front —that is, from the Sea of Azov northwards. The Germans said the Russians had succeeded in driving wedges. The Soviet communique states that to-day the Russians on the Orel front continued their offensive, overcoming counter-attacks, and advanced two and a-half to four miles. In the Byelgorod direction intensified reconnaissance activity took place. Yesterday the Russians on the Orel front destroyed or damaged 18 tauks and 20 armoured cars. A total of 137 enemy planes were destroyed.