RUSSIAN REPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 91, 14 October 1943, Page 6

RUSSIAN REPORTS

. GREAT ENEMY LOSSES Rec. 1 p.m. : LONDON, Oct. 13. Tonight's Soviet communique records big gains on the southern and White Russian fronts. It says that the Red Army in the Melitopol sector, after a three-day battle, broke into the strongly-fortified enemy defence line 'north and south of Melitopol, and fighting is now going on in the centre of Melitopol. "After forcing the Molochnaya River, we advanced five to six miles, and occupied twenty-two enemy ■ % strong points, the pnemy -sustaining enormous losses in man-power and 'equipment." The Russians in the Zaporozhe sector, after stubborn fourday, battles, penetrated strongly-forti- , fied enemy defences, advanced five to eight miles, captured over thirty foi'tified strong points, and are now fighting five to six miles from the town of Zaporozhe. "Qur artillery fire and massed air attacks destroyed great quantities of men and material." On the west bank of the Dnieper, south, of Kiev, the Russians, developed various operations for the .extension of their bridgehead, and. also penetrated enemy defences and advanced three to four miles. North of Gomel the Red Army has broken into the enemy's defences, forced the Soj River, and advanced several kilometres. . Fighting is now going on immediately before the town of Gomel. The "Red Star" reported that the Germans lost 55*00 killed in a two-days' battle between the rivers north of Gomel. The Germans abandoned huge dumps and trainloads of stores. ■ Reuters Moscow correspondent reports that Russian heavy guns are bombarding German positions in the Crimea, from the Kerch Straits. ■