July 15, 1944;

THIS WAS REPORTED TODAY, JULY 15, 1944:

ALLIED SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, London, Saturday, July 15—

The main line of the nazi defenses in west Normandy— the Lessay-Periers-St. Lo highway—was crumbling Saturday under the impact of an 8-pronged American drive which moved forward more than 3 miles in 24 hours, overran 15 villages and

Smashed 11 new wedges into the German lines.

LONDON, Saturday, July 15(AP)

— The red army, pushing westward along a line less than 20 miles from east Prussia, reported Saturday it had broken the nazis' Niemen river line southeast of Grodno and was closing within 7 miles of that big strong point in part of a general

advance from the Latvian border region to old Poland.

 War Fronts

At a Glance

By United Press

WESTERN  FRONT —

Entire American front between Atlantic and St. Lo on move; Germans retreating.

RUSSIA—

Polish base of Finnic taken by soviets; 12 miles from German delineated East Prussian border.

ITALY—

Fifth army units capture

Poggibonsi, Pastina and San Luce in general Advance northward.

PEARL HARBOR —

Guam ripped by bombs and rockets of United States naval task force for tenth straight day. Truk again raided.

ASIA —

 Japanese counterattack, reencircle Hangyang.

 

Salt Lake City, Utah, Saturday Morning, July 15, 1944

Yanks Drive 11 New Wedges in Foe's

Defenses, Take 15 Villages,

Gain 3 Miles as Shaken Enemy Flees

Allies (Official)—By United Press

ALLIED SUPREME HEADQUARTERS, London, Saturday, July 15—

The main line of the nazi defenses in west Normandy— the Lessay-Periers-St. Lo highway—was crumbling Saturday under the impact of an 8-pronged American drive which moved forward more than 3 miles in 24 hours, overran 15 villages and

Smashed 11 new wedges into the German lines.

Striking through marshes and woodlands, American tanks and riflemen pushed within one to 3 miles of the highway and brought it under light artillery range at half a dozen points,as headquarters disclosed that 'the Germans had begun an orderly withdrawal along the entire front from the Atlantic to the St. Lo area, leaving behind suicide squadrons to fight to the death or surrender.

Reds Smash

Nazi Line on

Niemen River

Close Within 7 Miles

Of Doomed Grodno,

Capture Pinsk Bastion

Russia (Official)

By Associated Press

LONDON, Saturday, July 15(AP)

— The red army, pushing westward along a line less than 20 miles from east Prussia, reported Saturday it had broken the nazis' Niemen river line southeast of Grodno and was closing within 7 miles of that big strong point in part of a general

advance from the Latvian border region to old Poland. Among more than 315 towns announced as captured Friday against slowly stiffening opposition was the German redoubt of Pinsk, 100 miles east of Brest Litovsk, nearly completing liquidation of the Pripynt marshes resistance,

Take 2 Bastions

Before Grodno, which dispatches this morning indicated was doomed to fall shortly, the Russians announced capture of Verstelishki (Wicrcieliszld), 7 miles east, and Zhidomlaya, 8 miles southeast, but were silent on German statements that soviet patrols already ' had twice been driven from Grodno itself.

Start Drafting

Tabloid Size

Party Platform

By United Press

CONVENTION HEADQUARTERS,

Chicago, July 14 (UP)—

A wide open preconvention scramble by favorite sons and other hopefuls for the Democratic vice presidential nomination started Friday while plat form drafters organized for work on a tabloid-sized part declaration.

Advance agents for various candidates went to work among early arriving delegates as Pres. Roosevelt delayed issuance of his expected expression of preference— but not demand—for renomination of Henry A. Wallace as his running mate. Washington predictions that the president would make some kind of pronouncement on Wallace Friday failed to materialize.

It was reported, here that National Chairman Robert E. Hanncgan was bringing with him correspondence between the president and Wallace and would make

it public prior to the convention or at one of the sessions. The convention

opens Wednesday.

Left Wing Favorite

In any event, it seemed certain Wallace, favorite of the left wing new dealers, would keep himself in the race. Among numerous expected contenders against him, these figured prominently: War Mobilizer James F. Byrnes, Sens. Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky, Scott Lucas of Illinois and Harry S. Truman of Missouri; Gov. Henry F. Schricker of Indiana, Federal Judge Sherman Minton of Indiana and perhaps Justice William O. Douglas.

War Fronts

At a Glance

By United Press

WESTERN  FRONT —

Entire American front between Atlantic and St. Lo on move; Germans retreating.

RUSSIA—

Polish base of Finnic taken by soviets; 12 miles from German delineated East Prussian border.

ITALY—

Fifth army units capture

Poggibonsi, Pastina and San Luce in general Advance northward.

PEARL HARBOR —

Guam ripped by bombs and rockets of United States naval task force for tenth straight day. Truk again raided.

ASIA —

 Japanese counterattack, reencircle Hangyang.

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