ENCIRCLING OREL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21151, 20 July 1943, Page 3

ENCIRCLING OREL

RED TRAP CLOSING NAZI FORCES’ PERIL RESERVES~RUSHED up (Bv Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, July 19. The Russians arc closing the back door to Orel, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. The encirclement of large enemy { forces is now thought to be near. Meanwhile, the Germans continue to move in troops from other sectors to stem the Russian advance. The Germans are also drawing planes •> from other places and attempting to s build up their strength. 2 The Moscow correspondent of the \ Exchange and Telegraph Agency says s that, according to the latest Prussian .* estimate, based on army rcconnais- ![ sancc. tlie Germans have between 235 n and 240 divisions on the Russian v front.

A Soviet supplementary communique states: “On the Orel front, Soviet troops, overcoming enemy resistance and repelling counter-attacks, continued to forge ahead. One formation occupied several localities and wiped out 900 Germans. Another accounted for 3000 Germans. One Soviet detachment took by storm a strongly fortified locality, wiping out an infantry battalion. In one sector the: Germans launched a counter-attack with large infantry forces supported by 40 tanks. The Russians met the enemy with fire from all kinds of arms. The counter-attack was frustrated, the enemy leaving hundreds of dead and 17 crippled tanks. “North-west of Novorossisk, the Germans are attempting to regain a height that they lost the previous day and launched several attacks, but all were icpellcd and the Russians are firmly holding their positions,” Aircraft in the Black Sea sank an

enemy submarine, and in the Barents Sea transports and one guard vessel were damaged. The Moscow radio announced that

reports from the Orel front stated that Soviet aircraft are efficiently bombing enemy trains and columns of lorries.

The announcer stated that four groups of Soviet Pol II bombers, escorted by a large number of Soviet fighter planes, attacked the railway junction. Direct hits were observed on trains and explosions took place. It was

ascertained that the railway tracks and all switches and the railway station building were either wrecked or set on fire.

A Moscow air communique savs that the Red Air Force last night raided the railway junction at Orel and the railway stations of Nablva and Karachev, also aerodromes. The bombing started scores of fires among enemy stores. Several military trains were wrecked and numerous planes destroyed on the ground. Counter-Attacks Repelled

Both Russian and German dispatches state that fierce fighting is going on around Orel. Moscow sources state that heavy German counter-attacks on the southern end of the Orel front during the past 24 hours were repelled and the Russians are now in sight of some of the German key positions. Reuter’s correspondent in Moscow says that the Orel area is being turned into a huge salient which will leave tire city in a narrow cul-de-sac as the Russians elsewhere keep up the drive. The Russians to-night, which is the sixth day of the Russian offensive, stand about 15 miles east, 20 miles west and 35 to 45 miles south of Orel. The Russians have forced the river and established bridgeheads northwest of the town on the western flank of the gap which has been torn in the German defences. The Soviet Army paper, Red Star, states that bridgeheads have been established for a considerable distance and, despite the constant stream of German reinforcements, the Red Army is widening the passage. Reuter’s correspondent adds that Russians are also nearing the OrelBryansk railway. Reconnaissance shock troops are already attacking supply and troop trains on this railway. * Two of the most mobile struggles are going on for Orel. The Russians north-west and west of Orel are now within an area of hundreds of square miles in which many individual battles are in progress as tlie Russians mop up centres ol resistance. The Germans are striving to fill up the gaps in their defences, using medium tanks. Tigers are being used very sparingly. An additional Russian drive from the south may be expected since the poistion at Kursk has been fully restored.