MOSCOW FIRES ITS BIGGEST SALUTE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 5

MOSCOW FIRES ITS BIGGEST SALUTE

MUTUAL GREETINGS

Great Victories Hailed By

World Leaders

Rec. noon. RUGBY, April 27. The Allied link-up some 60 miles south of Berlin has been immediately signalised by an Order of the Day. from Marshal Stalin to the accompaniment of Moscow's biggest gun salute. The Order, which for the first time omitted the .usual concluding words, "Death to the German invader," said: "Troops of the First Ukrainian Command and British and American troops, by blows from the East and West, have cut the front of the German troops and linked up in the centre of Germany in the area of the town of Torgau. The German troops in Northern Germany have thus been cut off from the German troops in Germany's southern area. To mark this victory and in honour of the historic event to-day Moscow, the capital of our native land, will, in the name of the country, salute the valiant troops of the First Ukrainian Command and our Allied British and American troops with 24 salvoes from 324 guns. Long live the victory of freedom-loving peoples over Germany." In a special message Marshal Stalin said:— "In the name of the Soviet Government I address you, commanders and men of the Red Army and of the armies of our Allies. Victorious armies of the Allied Powers, waging a war of liberation in Europe, have routed the German troops and linked up on the territory of Germany. Our task and our duty are to complete the destruction of the enemy and force him to lay down his arms and surrender unconditionally. The Red Army will fulfil to the end this task and this duty to our people and all freedom-loving peoples. I greet the valorous troops of our Allies who are now standing on the territory of Germany shoulder to shoulder with Soviet troops and who, full of determination, will carry out their duty to the end." President Truman, in a message on the same occasion said:— "The British and American armies under the command of General Eisenhower have met the Soviet forces where they intended