NEW DRIVE

Evening Star, Issue 25226, 13 July 1944, Page 5

NEW DRIVE

SECOND BALTIC FRONT

21-MILE BREAK-THROUGH

(Rec. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. Marshal Stalin, in an order of the day addressed-to General Yeremetiko, announced that the troops on the second Baltic front northwest of Sokolnikt penetrated the enemy's defences and in two days' fighting advanced 21 miles, extended the break-through to a width of 90 miles, and captured the town and large railway junction of Idritsa, 30 miles east of the Latvian border, which was an important strongpoint of the enemy's defences, besides'over 2,000 other places. To-night's Soviet communique repeat* Stalin's order, and adds that the Russians north-west of Polotsk forced the Dirssa River and captured 60 places, and south-west of Dvinsk captured another 60 places. The Russian*! northwest and south-west of Vilna captured Radun, besides'2oo inhabited localities. The Russians in Vilna are liquidating the enemy troops surrounded in the centre of the town. The Red army south-west of Lida captured 70 places, and west and southwest of Baranovichi captured Selva, v fought its way into 50 localities, and also captured several places, including a railway station in the"Pinsk sector. The Russians north-west and west of Kondopoga occupied 30 places, and north-west of Lake Ladoga completely cleared the enemy from the two lakes.