Evening star., 1944-06-26

LoISDoN H1.-fTemler Std-
lin in an order of the day
announced today the capture
of Vitebsk.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, June 26.-Attacking
on a 250-mile front in one of
|history's greatest land offensives
four powerful Russian armies
drove westward through the
broken German "Fatherland
Line" in White Russia today,
leaving behind $4,000 trapped
enemy troops. These were
being cut to pieces in the battle
torn streets of encircled Vitebsk.
AS Russia's vital role in the AL
lied Teheran master plan to crush
Germany this year unfolded front
by front, German broadcasts noted
with alarm that a fifth Red Army
had struck in the Ostrov sector, 165
miles northwest of doomed Vitebsk.
That would make a 325-mile front
in the east, exclusive of the two
Russian armies now battering Fin
land.
And at least four other great
Soviet armies, equipped in part with
American weapons, are poised on
the Polish and Romanian fronts
waiting for the signal for a concert
ed push toward Berlin in conjunc-
ton with Allied armies in the west
and south.
Rolling over roads strewn with
dead Germans and wrecked equip
ment, the Russians had thrown a
broad belt of men and machines
around the fortress city Of vitebsk,
and were threatening the strong
holds of Orsha, Mogilev and
Bobruisk to the south.
tThe German bridgehead at
Vitebsk has been cut off from
rear communications, the Ger
man Transocean Agency broad
cast today)
$4,000 Germans Killed,
Moscow said more than 10000
Germans had been killed-8,0 900 OF
them in the area south of Vitebsk
alone. Hundreds of big guns, trucks
and other equipment also had been
seized. Machines in full working
order were abandoned by the Ger
mans, whose flight was called re-
treat in panic" One entire com
pany of the 56th Nazi Infantry Di-
vision came over to the Red Army
side," the Soviet bulletin said.
In three-day advance of more
than Is miles, the Russians had
freed 1850 towns and villages. Their
ultimate objective appeared to be
a break-through to the Baltic Sea
and German East Prussia.
The situation by sectors as giver
in a series of Moscow bulletins ano
orders Of the day by Premier Stain
Vitebsk-Gen. Ivan Bagramian'.
1st Baltic Army had forced the
Dvina River west of Vitebsk, cut the
German escape highway to Lepe
at point 20 miles southwest of the
city. The northern and southern
Russian wings united. trapping five
German divisions around and in
side Vibetsk. Red Army shock
troops then battered their way into
the streets of Vibetsk, where a fam
ing street fight ensued. Three hun.
dred villages were taken In the sec.
tor.
Nazi Positions Broken.
Orsha-Russian troops of Col
Gen. Ivan Cherniakhovsky's Sd Rus.
sian Army broke through German
positions northeast Of Orsha. The,
captured $50 villages, including tn,
rail station of Khlustino, 10 mile.
from Orsha, which is 48 miles south
of Vitebsk.
| Mogilev-Col. Gen. Matvei zak.
harov's I'd White Russian Army
forced the Pronya River, one of tn,
main defenses of Mogilev and seizee
Chausi, a district center. Khai.
hovichi, only 16 miles from Mo.
ellev, also was among more than 2O(
liberated villages. Mogilev is 81
miles south of Vitebsk.
Bobruisk-Gen. K. X. Rokossov.
skys lst White Russian Army agair
was on the move in this sector
just above the Pripet marshes. The
troops under this Stalingrad hero
hammered out 50-mile breach il
German defenses on both sides Of
Bobruisk, 10 miles southwest O,
| MNpileU The Gernnar ctronaLal. j.