Russians Closing In On Orel

Northern Advocate, 23 July 1943, Page 3

Russians Closing In On Orel

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON. July 22. The Russians are slowly closing in from the north and south and are now fighting their iway through concrete fortifications of the main outer defences of Orel, while heavy guns continue shelling the city from the east. The Germans further south have been forced to abandon the main Byelgorod defence lines. The Russians in this sector are advancing everywhere. Russians south of Isyum, and southeast of Voroshilovgrad, beat off successive German counter-attacks, and are now steadily widening bridgeheads on the banks of the Donetz and Mius rivers. Offensive in Leningrad Area All key sectors are being steadily pounded from the air. According to the German news agency, an additional Russian offensive has opened in the Leningrad area. The Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press states that the Berlin correspondent of the “Social Demokratens’’ reports that a Russian invasion fleet of 50 ships is .off Vardo. on the north-eastern cost of Norway. German military circles say the Russians plan to cut off Petsamo and threaten the Finnish front from the rear. The Germans claim that the Russians have already failed in three landing attempts. Trying to Force Decision The importance of the Germans attacking in battles proceeding on the Russian front was revealed when one of Berlin radio’s military commentators said: “The Russians around Orel, also in the Byelogorod area, apparently intend, by massing tanks in a large-scale offensive, to force a decision in the war.” Axis sources continue to report bitter fighting in key sectors on the Russian front, while the Russians claim steady advances despite fierce enemy counterattacks. German Line Broken Reuter's Moscow correspondent reports that the strdng German line east of Orel has been broken in the last 2 4 hours, and the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press declares that the Russians are now fighting within the main defences of the city. _ A bottleneck through which Axis forces must be evacuated from Orel has been pinched to a mere 25 to 33 miles. Reuter says that the Russians, driving down the railway from Mt. Sensk, 35 miles north-east of Orel, have captured two-thirds of the line between the two towns. A Deadly Blow By reaching the railway station of Optukha in their 20-mile advance, they struck a heavy blow against one of the strongest of the Germans' defence positions. The Russians have robbed the Germans not only the stretch of Moscow railway running into Orel, but also an important highway. Both were used to feed the German positions and ward off Russian pressure from the north-east.

LONDON. July 22.

A “Tass” neiws agency says that the Russians, to break enemy resistance on the Orel front, as quickly as possible, are by-passing strong-points and forcing the Germans to abandon their positions by flanking attacks. Battle of Communications

“Red Star,” commenting on the vital Orel battle, describes it as a battle of communications, in which the Germans have made every effort to hold highway and railways running from Orel. “The Germans, despite stiff resistance. have failed to hold Optukha or Zolotorevo, between Orel and Yeleta. The capture of these towns, following the fall of Mt. Sensk, means_ that the Russians have relieved their forces from fear of any attack the Germans could have launched from the Mt. Sensk pocket.” Fighting Increases in Violence Moscow radio stated that a German infantry division, totalling about 12,000 men, brought up to the front north of Orel a few days' ago, was so badly mauled that remnants have been formed into one battalion, totalling about 750 men. A “Tass” news agency says that fighting is growing more violent hourly. In one sector south of Isyum, hand-to-hand fighting is frequently occurring. The Germans are making every effort to hold the lines, but the Russians have already succeeded in improving their positions. Fighting is particularly stiff along the northern Donetz, where the enemy put up stubborn resistance at a river crossing, but failed to prevent the Russians forcing the river. Red Parachutists Used

According to a German news agency the Russians used parachutists behind the German lines on the Donetz. Hard defensive fighting is going on. both sides continually throwing in fresh reserves, adds the news agency. Germans Not Surprised

Violent fighting has been raging around Leningrad since dawn this morning, says a German news agency. The Russian attack on this sector did not surprise the Germans, who were long aware of the Red Army’s preparations. “The Russians’ attempt to break through the northern wing, when seen in correct perspective, have only the importance of large-scale relief manoeuvres. The Russians at Leningiad, as well as on the Mius and Donetz Rivers, are merely trying to tie down the German forces in order to get a freer hand in the Orel sector,’’ says the news agency. German Lose 56,000 Men

The Russian communique states. “Soviet troops in the Orel -direction continued the offensive and advanced four to five miles and occupied many places, including Bolkiv, 40 miles north of Orel. With the occupation of Bolkiv they completed liquidation of a strong fortified region north of Ord. In 10 days’ offensive in the Orel direction, the Russians captured 372 tanks, 720 guns, and 800 mortars.- The Germans lost 6000 prisoners and 50,000 killed. The Russians destroyed or damaged 776 tanks and destroyed 900 planes and 88 guns. Soviet troops in the Byelgorod region advanced three to four miles, despite many counterattacks. South of Izyum and southwest of Voroshilograd, Soviet troops continued fighting of local importance. Germans Fear Worst

The German High Command and Press are busy preparing the population for news of further serious setbacks in Russia, says the Berne correspondent of the British United Press. The Berlin correspondent of “Neuezurcher Zeitung” says that the German High Command is now talking about mobile defence, a phrase usually preceding news of further retreats. The High Command also talks of the possibility of abandoning what are called “mere strips of territory.” Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says that latest despatches from Berlin indicate that Stalingrad is on everybody’s lips in Berlin, where German withdrawals on the Eastern front are expected. German propaganda has spent much time preparing the home front for further setbacks and there is an atmosphere now like the gloom prevailing before the Stalingrad disas-

ter. Berliners murmur the worn "Stalingrad’’ because Nazi propaganda has been desperately insisting that no comparison must be made with tna. debacle. Reuter adds that reports from Gcriman front-line corxcspondhnts confirm German withdrawals and, for the first time, indicate that German troops are demoralised by it. One war reporter writes: “Psychologically the situation is most tense because the individual soldier does not understand why be has to abandon territory which previously was captured yard by yard under extremely heavy fighting.” Moscow announces that last night large forces of long-range bombers raided German-held railway junctions. Trains and dumps were left burning'. Russians Draw Nearer

The Russians are evidently closing in on Orel along the railways leading to the city from the north-west, where they arc eight miles away, and from the ens.. where they are a dozen miles away. To the north-west of Orel they are reported to have the Bryansk railway within easy range. Operations on the Donetz around Isvum and on the .urns, south-west of Voroshilovgrad, do not appear to he on a large scale yet. Orel Must be Held Russian long-range guns are already shelling the city of Orel, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press Hitler is reported to have ordered that Orel must be held regardless of cost, so the Germans are rushing up fresh divisions. It is. now known what German forces are in the pocket the Russians are trying to cut off, but they are formidable and include numerous armoured units. German sources describe the battle between Orel and Sukhinichi as a great blood mill, with the Russians ever reattacking in greater strength. The Stockholm correspondent of The Times" says that Moscow cautiously describes the incipient great battle for Isyum ‘and Llsichansk, south-west of Voroshilovgrad and along the River Mius. as “local battles which tend to become of serious scope." Present .operations m this sector, says the correspondent, must be a continuation of the Russians’ uncompleted winter offensive. The Russians then initiated twin drives south of the IsyumLisinchansk sector and west across the Mius between the Azov Sea and Voroshilovgrad with the objective of clasping hands somewhere east of the Dnieper preparatory to squeezing the Germans Donetz Basin armies. This objective is just as attractive today. ;