SIGNS OF WEAKENING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1943, Page 3

SIGNS OF WEAKENING

IN AXIS ATTACKS ON KURSK SALIENT NO ENEMY HEADWAY IN RECENT FIGHTING. RUSSIANS GAIN SOME GROUND. LONDON, July 13. Though they are reported still to be massing men, tanks and aircraft against the Kursk salient, the Germans have not only gained nothing on the Russian front: in the past 24 hours, but have, had to give ground on both shoulders of the Kursk salient. Yesterday, the Germans’ main attack was switched back to the southern end of the front, wherfc very fierce fighting occurred, but the Russians, after holding their positions, drove the enemy further back in one area. A Russian gain is also reported on the northern 'Sector. The Germans made further efforts to widen their wedge in the Byelgorod area, but failed to gain a yard of ground. The military commentator of the German news agency, Captain Senatorius, And that the battle of Kursk had not yet reached a climax, and no forecast could be made of German success. The object of the German offensive, he said, was to forestall a Russian move and to use up Russian rein the eight days of the offensive on the Orei-Kursk-Byeigorod front, a Russian communique states, the Germans have lost 2622 tanks and 1126 planes. The estimated loss of men is 40,000.

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