WHITE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 229, 24 June 1944, Page 7

WHITE RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE

German Report Of Soviet Blow ON WIDE FRONT LONDON, June 23. German reports, not yet confirmed by the Russians, say that large forces of Soviet troops, supported by tanks and artillery, have attacked on a wide front in White Runssia. from south of Mogilev to, the area of Vitebsk, 80 miles to the north. ißy Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, June 22. The Russians are now mounting three offensives, the first north of Lake Onega, the second between Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga, the third between Lake Onega and the Gulf of Finland. It is this last thrust which is approaching the 1940 Finnish frontier, 16 miles beyond Viborg, states the British United Press Moscow correspondent More than 50 more places have been taken north-east and east of Viborg, and vicious fighting is developing where crack Finnish sharp-shooters are holding out in concrete and steel firingP< RecT Army troops continued their advance north of Lake Onega today and occupied several places, including tniee stations on the railway to Murmansk, says a Soviet communique. Between Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga, Diey fought successful battles to widen their bridgehead on the north bank of the River Svir, in the Lodovnoie Polie region. On the Karelian Isthmus, Red Army troops, driving on beyond Viborg, have fought further ahead, and have taken several places, among’ them a station n\e miles north-east of Viborg. The communique also says that yesterday 73 enemy aircraft were destroyed on all fronts. , The German news agency states that Field-Marshal Mannerheim, in an order of the day to Finnish naval cadets, said: “It has become necessary for all our forces to be harnessed to the war effort. Everyone must prove his courage, steadfastness and patriotism.” . The Soviet Press publishes a Finnisli radio report that Helsinki is bc> D B evacuated, and that Soviet tanks, chalked with the slogan “On to Helsinki,’ are moving through Viborg. Massive units, including tanks and artillery, operating with heavy air support, are pushing the Finns further and further from the city. The Helsinki correspondent of the Stockholm “Aftonbladet” reports that an endless stream of evacuees poured out of Helsinki today. Trains and buses headed for central Finland were crammed with women and children. The Germans sent a limited number of bombers to attempt to help the Finns, but the Soviet fighters so far have prevented interference with Soviet dispositions or troop movements.