RUSSIAN FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 116, 18 May 1944, Page 6

RUSSIAN FRONT

BAJTLE OF BOMBERS Jtea 1.45 p.m. LONDON, May 17. The Eussian war for the moment has become a -battle of bombers, says ■ the British United Press correspondent in Moscow. Russian and German ibombers are nightly hammering bases behind, each other's lines—the Russians in preparation for coming attacks, the Germans in attempts to prevent these attacks. The Russian bombing is part of the softening-up ! process for the summer campaign. Hundreds of Red lAir Force planes are. massing behind the front ready to be thrown into battle in support of the ground troops. Tonight's Soviet -communique again reports no change along the front. The air communique says that Russian long-range planes last night bombed concentrations, enemy trains, military dumps, and rail junctions at Minsk, ißaronovichi (65 miles south-west of Minsk), and Kholm. (midway between Ko'wel and Lublin). Seven fires were started in Minsk, which spread out into a vast conflagration. Violent explosions were observed.-There were many Imilitary trains at Kholm at tEe time of the raid, several of which received direct hits. Many s fires were started, accompanied by large explosions. Reconnaissance has shown that cars, open itrucks, and stores at the junction were i Bet on fire.