COLMAR ENTERED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1945, Page 5

COLMAR ENTERED

JOYOUS WELCOME French And American Troops Fraternise In City X.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 2. French and American troops have fought their way to just over a mile from Neufbrisach, to the south-east of Colmar, whence supplies go into the German salient west of the Rhine. They are also reported to have penetrated into Colmar, which they have cut off from the east.

The Sixth Army Group reports that French and United States troops entered Colmar some time this morning and later reached the centre of the city. Street fighting continues.

A later message from a correspondent at Supreme Headquarters says that the official French communique states: "The French First Army is in the centre of Colmar. The enemy is retreating from north to south and desperately trying to disengage his troops, leaving enormous quantities of material. At noon French troops united fraternally with those of the American divisions in the centre of the city." French tanks and infantry have entered Colmar. which is the last important inland French town still in German hands, says Reuters correspondent, cabling from Colmar. The population gave the troops a tremendous welcome,.

Resistance has collapsed in the Colmar pocket, which stretched 17 miles west of the Rhine from Strasbourg to east of Colmar. All enemy forces, except a few scattered parties, fled from the Colmar pocket across the Rhine. The enemy escape bridge at Briesach, east of Colmar, is being shelled without let up.