Nazis Lose Ist Round Of Kursk Battle

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1943, Page 3

Nazis Lose Ist Round Of Kursk Battle

(Rec. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 14. It is becoming clear that the Germans are suffering a very severe reverse in their assault against the OrelKursk bulge, against which they threw their heaviest armour strength em* ployed in any battle. Commentators, drawing attention to this, suggest that the general public, in justifiable admiration for the Allied feat of arms in Sicily, perhaps does not realise the significance of what is happening in Russia. The Stockholm correspondent of ‘‘The Times” points out that while losses of men and material is heavy on both sides. the important fact is that the German enterprise has failed, and it is the first failure of any German summer offensive in Europe. The Germans did not succeed in breaking into the Russian positions or removing the great Kursk bulge, which 16lT13inS c«S inconvenient and dangerous as previously. First Stage Of Battle Ended Information from Moscow and Berlin, says “The Times,” clearly indicates the finish of the first German aggressive stage of the battle. However, desperate fighting continues on the Byelgorod area. Tank battles here continue on a vast scale, Avith the Germans vainly seeking to .hammer a deeper dent in the Russian defences. The latest Berlin news agency report states that the tank battle surpasses in violence and extent anything hitherto known. A Russian military spokesman declared that the Russians are gradually getting the upper hand in the Byelgorod area. The Red Army is sending in substantial tank reinforcements and constantly attacking from heavily fortified flank positions against German wedges. These attacks, increasing in frequency, have reduced the pressure the Germans are able to exert at the tips of the wedges. Germans Lose Initiative Reuter’s Moscow correspondent states that the Byelgorod battle raged furiously today. Interlocked armies swayed to and fro. Places changed hands frequently. Hitler is estimated to have thrown a million men, 2500 planes and 4000 tanks into the battle for the Kursk salient. The Moscow correspondent of the British United Press declares that the Russians have wrested the initiative from the Germans and appear to be on the way to forcing a decision along the whole 165 miles’ front between Orel and Byelgorod. Wearing Down Germans Earlier messages from London said the Red Army is steadily wearing down von Kluge’s forces in the battle for the Orel-Kursk bulge. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says lighting went on all day on Monday in all sectors north and south of the Kursk salient, but it was characterised by two outstanding facts: (1.) The Germans attacked with smaller forces and noticeably less vigour; (2) Russian defences developed a tremendous comeback, exemplified by Russian guards at Byelgorod recapturing their original lines. i

The latest Russian communique says fierce fighting continued in the Byelgorod direction yesterday. Soviet units, in some sectors, pressed back the Germans who had wedged into Russian positions.

The enemy did not attempt any major operations in the Orel-Kursk direction. Reuter adds that the battle of Kursk has not yet been decided, but. unless von Kluge is able to produce a military white rabbit from Hitler’s battered top-hat it looks as though Goebbels had a sound intuition when ho pretended the German offensive was not an offensive at all.

The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the Germans are switching fresh reserves of ground forces and planes to the Byelgorod front in an effort to achieve the break-through which failed on the Orel-Kursk sector. Big forces are being thrown in to develop the wedge which the Germans, at the weekend. forced in Russian Byelgorod positions, and the Russians have taken up defensive positions to prevent this. The Germans at Byelgorod arc delivering continuous., sharp tank attacks which are composed of one-third Tiger tanks, but even these, thus far, have failed to gain any ground. “The Times" Stockholm correspondent says what news there is available from the Byelgorod front suggests the Germans have be«-n unable to deepen or widen the wedge since July !). The fact that the Germans had to call off their attacks in the Orel-Kursk direction on the eighth day of their powerful offensive is the best news the Russians have had this summer, says the Moscow correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System. Me adds there are also indications that the battle is slackening in all sectors of the central front.

The Red Army is steadily wearing down von Kluge's forces in the battle for the Orel-Kursk bulge. Reuter’s Moscow correspondent says fighting went on all day on Monday in all sectors north and south of the Kursk salient, but it was characterised by two outstanding facts: (1) The Germans attacked with smaller forces and noticeably less vigour; (2) Russian defences developed a tremendous comeback, exemplified by Russian guards at Byelgorod recapturing their original lines.

The latest Russian communique says fierce fighting continued in the Byelgorod direction yesterday. Soviet units, in some sectors, pressed back the Germans who had wedged into Russian positions. The enemy did not attempt any major operations in the Orel-Kursk direction. Reuters adds that the battle of Kursk has not yet been decided, but, unless von Kluge is able to produce a military white rabbit from Hitler’s battered top-hat it looks as though Goebbels had a sound intuition when he pretended the German offensive was not an offensive at all. Concentrate on Byelgorod

The British United Press Moscow correspondent says the Germans are switching fresh reserves of ground forcos and planes to the Byelgorod front in an effort to achieve the break-through which failed on the Orel-Kursk sector. Big forces are being thrown in to develop the wedge which the Germans, at the week-end, forced in Russian Byelgorod positions, and the Russians have taken up defensive positions to prevent this. The Germans at Byelgorod are delivering continuous, sharp tank attacks which are composed of onethird Tiger tanks, but even these, thus far, have failed to gain any ground. “The Times’’ Stockholm correspondent says what news there is available from the Byelgorod front suggests the Germans have been unable to deepen or widen the wedge since July 9. The fact that the Germans had to call off their attacks in the Orel-Kursk direction on the eighth day of their powerful offensive is the best news the Russians have had this summer, says the Moscow correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting System. He adds there are also indications that the battle is slackening in all sectors,of the central front.