The Wilmington morning star., 1943-08-09
Continued From Page One)

southeast of Kharkov, the Russians
told of resumed Soviet attacks,
largely by air. Bombardiers were
said to have smashed three enemy
railway trains and more than 420
supply and oil trucks.
'As result of the operation OF
our air force on various parts Of
the railway, the enemy has ceased
traffic on the line," said the COM
munique, apparently referring to
the Slavyansk Stalino sections
which feed the Germans holding
the lower Donets basin.
This entire enemy area is threat
ened by steadily mounting Rus
sian gains at Kharkov and Bry-
ansk. Soviet capture of Kharkov
and thrusts southwestWard toward
the Dnieper river bend could cause
"a general German withdrawal
from the exposed Donets basin
and the Caucasian ,bridgehead at
Novorossisk. Limited fighting was
reported southwest of Voroshilov'
grad and near NovorossiSk.
The Russians said their armies
killed approximately 5000 Germans
and knocked out scores OF tanks In
yesterdays operations, in addition
to the capture of great stores OF
equipment. Most Of the toll was
taken in the Kharkov and Bryansk
drives. Sixty-eight of the ia
enemy planes reported destroyed
fell in flames near Bryansk.
Nearly 200 villages were overrun
by the Russians during the day in
advances of four to nine miles on
both fronts, said the communique
recorded by the Soviet monitor.
With a speed reminiscent of its
greatest winter offensives, the Red
army appeared to be slashing for
ward with speed that promised
early entry into White Russia and
the central Ukraine, the territories
in which lie the Pinsk marshes and
the Dnieper river.
Moscow dispatches. quoting So
Wet newspaper accounts, said the
Germans, badly rumpled in their
hard battles at Orel and Kursk,
and now harassed by the spear
head tactics of the heads-up Rus
slams, were retreating rapidly and
making no determined stand.
The Dnieper river, $50 miles west
of the -Kharkov line, was the
next natural front and the Ger
mans apparently were falling back
upon it.
Moscow dispatches, quoting a
Red Star report, said the Germans
had begun the civilian evacuation
of Belgorod, now in Russian hands.
as long ago as July 20 although
the Red army attack on that out
post of Kharkov did not begin until
August 4.
Kharkov's position was gravely
menaced by developments Of the
last "a hours.
Chief among these was the an
nouncement in tonight's specia
communique of the capture o:
Bogodukhov, 35 miles west anc
slightly north of the big Ukraine
steel center. The capture OF this
railway town sliced another o.
Kharkov's western rail exits.
Bogodukhov is 20 miles south
of Graivoron which the Russian!
took Saturday.
Rolling down the Orel-Bryansl
railway, 200 miles to the north
they advanced from four to sever
miles and captured more than l3
towns and villages.
Among the towns swept into tn
Red army were Narishkina, rail
way station IL miles west OF Ore
and Bedlakhin, another station l
miles west of Orel and 81 mile
east of Bryansk, the German
vital communications hub betweel
Smolensk on the central front an
the Ukraine. Bedlakhin is abou
30 miles. east of Karachev, mos
important point on the Orel-Bry
ansk railway.
Just to the south of this raj
way, the Russians also capture
Khmelovaya, IL miles northwest
Kromi, which the Russians captul
ed Friday in their spread to tn
southwest from Orel.
Almost in the center of the broa
front between Kharkov and Ore
the Russians also pushed forwar
a wedge which appeared aimed