DRAMATIC ATTACK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21149, 17 July 1943, Page 3

DRAMATIC ATTACK

OREL SALIENT GUNS BLAST A PATH

TROOPS STORM THROUGH (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, July 16. The dramatic sequel to the abortive German offensive against the Kursk salient occurred on Tuesday when the Russians took the initiative by striking at the base of the northern prong of the German attacking forces. Probably the Orel salient had been denuded to meet the need of the German offensive.

The Russian drive from the north is aimed at Orel-Bryansk railway. The nearest points to the railway reached yesterday were within 25 miles, but the advance has continued since then. A message from Moscow says the offensive began with massed artillery lire which swept away hundreds of earthen block-houses and scores of concrete forts which had been previously pin-pointed by Soviet reconnaissance planes. Shock troops who have been rehearsing for weeks were then rushed through the gaps and stormed the trenches.

The offensive is reported to have not lessened but rather increased the German determination to break through on the Byelgorod front. The Germans are still trying to deepen their penetration northwards and widen the wedges. As a result of the Russian counter-attacks, there are in some places wedges within wedges. The fact that the Germans dared to take the offensive at all in Russia tiiis summer caused surprise in London. No doubt Herr Hitler felt that he must do something for political if not for military reasons. In any case the German venture is regarded as bearing all the marks of the corporal's famous intuition. The strength of the Russian defences has evidently been miscalculated and the tank tactics of the early blitzkreigs failhd. Such tactics were not employed by the Allies in North Africa when infantry was used to clear the way for the tanks with repeated success.