The official Soviet agency, Tass, declares that the Red Army is continuing to inflict heavy loss on the enemy. During the past 24 hours, the Russian air force and land troops have annihilated more than 12,000 men and officers and destroyed 340 tanks and armoured cars, 140 guns and 400 lorries and brought down 47 planes.
The agency also reports that an offensive launched by Soviet troops several d. go in the Kestenga sec-for of the front is progressing successfully. The enemy is putting up stubborn resistance but is nevertheless falling back and sustaining heavy losses. In the latest engagements, Russian troops have recaptured a strategically important point and annihilated an entire infantry battalion, it is added.
A German thrust in a south-easteriv direction from Gomel appears to be making headway This thrust seems to be parallel with Russian counter-attacks. There thus seem to be two offensives going on simultaneously. The situation is confused and it is too early to say What may happen. but if the Russians go ahead Germans may have to pull out.
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