4/7/1944. 9.= am
The Russians have captured Minsk the capital of
White Russia. The city had been in German hands
for just over 3 years. The Russians re-took the
city following deep outflanking moves to the
north and south of it. They have already pushed
spearheads 80 miles to the southwest along
the main railway which runs from Minsk
to central Poland while other Soviet forces are
more than 1/3 rd of the way along the railway
running northwest from Minsk to Wilna.
At the northern end of the White Russian front
street fighting is reported to be taking place in
the rail town of Polotzk, gateway to the Baltic
states. In Normandy the American forces
have started a new drive down the western
side of the Cherbourg peninsula. In spite of
very bad weather and stubborn German
resistance they have advanced from 1 1/2 to 3
miles on a 10 mile front in the first day's
assault. To the southwest of Caen the Germans
are still re-grouping after the decisive
defeat of their counterattacks against the
British salient. Our patrols have been
very active and have penetrated about a
mile beyond the salient at some points
while our naval guns and land artillery
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