Eastern Front The Russian Voronezh Front (Vatutin), Steppen Front (Konev) and South-Western Front (Malinovsky) continue to close on Kharov, which has already been by-passed in the north-west by the cpature of Akhtyrka. The Russian s also reach the Kharkov-Poltara railway. Von Manstein stands up to the enemy manoeuvres with considerable skill, but skill is not enoughto repulse troops who are numerous, well armed, and since Stalingrad and Kursk - convinced of their ability to win. Solomon Islands Admiral Halsey issues instructions for the next stage of operation in the central Solomons. Task Force 31, under command of Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson (who replaced Rear Admiral Turner on 15tth July), is to land units of the 25th Division on Vella Lavella with the task of occupying the Japanese air and naval bases. This will neutralize and by-pass the Japanese garrison at present on Kolombangara. This is the first application of the island-hopping tactics which the Americans are often to use in future operations. In New Georgia long range guns are to be sited along the north-west coast to shell the Japanese positions on Kolombangara.
