KURSK BATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20825, 2 July 1942, Page 3

KURSK BATTLE

TEMPORARY PAUSE GERMANS HELD VAST FORCES USED DEVELOPMENTS LIKELY (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 1. Alter the Russians halted the first German thrust on the Kursk Bout, the enemy renewed his drive, the progress of which cannot yet be leported, says The Times’ Stockholm correspondent. The initial operations do not appear to be as heavy as the Donetz- Oskol thrust, but they could develop quickly, both sides having accumulated a huge mass ot troops. The German progress exacted such an expenditure of materials and men between Kharkov and the Donetz Basin that preparation is reeuired before a further move, but the pause is expected to be short. The first account of the battle on the Kursk front is published in the Red Star, the Soviet Army newspaper, which admits .that superior numbers of Germans drove an armoured fist through Russian lines, but states that the, Red Army cut off the enemy infantry from their tanks and continued to repulse the German attacks. Nazis Disregard Losses The enemy, after concentrating several infantry, motorised, and tank divisions, launched the offensive at dawn on Monday with violent bombing and shelling. Enemy aircraft in formations of 20 raided while tanks charged in columns of 50 .to 75. The Russians poured in artillery shells, anti-tank rifle bullets, hand grenades, and petrol bottles. Fifty-three enemy .tanks were damaged by 9 o’clock in the morning. The Germans, regardless of loss, hurled in several hundred additional tanks, succeeding in breaking into ‘the Soviet lines on some sectors. Soviet infantry from trenches mowed down .the German infantry with devastating machine-gun, trend) mortar, and rifle fire. The enemy attempting frontal attacks on the Russian positions were thrown back. Soviet tanks fiercely engaged German tanks which smashed through, unsupported by their infantry. The Germans brought up reserves on Monday night The Red Army throughout Tuesday continued the defence against stronger enemy forces which finally were successfully beaten off with heavy losses of manpower and equipment. The Russians report lit.tle other activity, but over the whole eastern front there are indications of more lively developments and reconnaissances in force, sometimes almost tantamount to armoured probing attacks, specially between the Odel and Leningrad sectors. i Heavy Toll at Volkhov' The Russians on the Volkhov front massed a tremendous quantity of artillery. Berlin refers to its “drumlire intensity.” The Russians admit that 10,000 were killed on this sector in the past few weeks. The enemy losses were certainly greater, which gives an idea of the magnitude of the preliminary fighting and also an idea of the sort of operations that can be expected in the fight for Leningrad. The German News Agency announced that Herr Hitler has promoted General von Kuechler, com-mander-in-chief of the German armies on the Volkhov sector, to field marshal “in grateful recognition of his services in defence against and destruction fcf the Russian armies brought up on a broad front for the relief of Leningrad.” The Vichy News Agency, in a dispatch from the Russian front, stated that in the past 24 hours General von Bock’s forces reached a point 23 miles westward of Yenikale, but attempted landings near Berdyansk, near Mariupol, were repelled by coastal artillery.