LOWER END OF KURSK SALIENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24631, 9 July 1943, Page 3

LOWER END OF KURSK SALIENT

RUSSIANS COUNTER-ATTACKING POSITIONS FIRMLY HELD IN NORTH By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 9, 12.6 a.m.) LONDON, July 8 Very fierce fighting occurred at both ends of the Kursk salient again yesterday, the third day of the German offensive in Russia. In the Bielgorod sector, in the south, the enemy made some progress. Late last night the Soviet troops counter-attacked in an attempt to regain the lost ground. The Germans in the KurskOrel sector, in the north, concentrated their attack against a 20-mile line between Orel and Mtsensk. They made no headway. "In some sectors of the Kursk-Orel front," states the Soviet midnight communique, "groups of between 15 and 30 enemy tanks succeeded in breaking through our positions, but by the end of the day they had all been destroyed. "Fighting in the Bielgorod direction was most violent. Several inhabited localities changed hands several times. The Germans continuously brought up reinforcements and, in some sectors, advanced somewhat and occupied several villages. Russian troops counter-attacked and are fighting to restore the situation." Desperate fighting is going on inside the Russian lines at points where German tanks have made local penetrations, says Reuter's Moscow correspondent. There is no sign of the enemy pressure weakening. The Germans are bringing reinforcements by gliders right up to the front line. They are doing so to make up for their transport losses. The Paris radio says the fighting has increased in intensity, with the tank struggle still swaying to and fro. Both sides have crack troops massed behind their lines for use at the opportune moment. The German losses are the greatest ever recorded in such a short space of time, even in this war, states a special announcement by the Soviet Information Bureau, broadcast from Moscow. In three days 30,000 German troops have been killed, 15 39 tanks destroyed or damaged, and 649 aircraft shot down. The fighting yesterday cost the enemy 520 tanks and 229 planes.