GERMAN REMNANTS RETREAT II SOUTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 5

GERMAN REMNANTS RETREAT II SOUTH

WEAK RESISTANCE

''Peacetime' , Mayors Chosen

In Several Towns

Rec. noon

LONDON, April 29

What is left of the German Army in the south is retreating through the Vorarlberg region, south-east of Lake Constance, toward Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian Tyrol, says the British United Press Zurich correspondent. Chaotic conditions exist in the Vorarlberg area, where Bregenz, Dornbirn, Feldkirch and other towns have already appointed "peacetime" mayors, who, however, are uncertain whether the Nazis intend to fight in their area or retreat farther eastward into the Salzburg redoubt.

The Times correspondent in Bavaria says that German resistance may well tail off into pockets which will hold out for varying periods. The natural site for one such pocket is the mountainous region in Southern Germany, the western tip of Austria and part of Northern Italy. The fact that this area, which includes Berchtesgaden, is perfectly suited for defence no doubt accounts for the legend that it is the national redoubt, but so far there is no sign of a mass withdrawal into this area. German troops are too busny engaged elsewhere, and their lack of rollir.g-stock precludes big troop movements.

The outer defences of Hitler's southern redoubt are crumbling, reports a correspondent. The captured city of Augsburg is recognised as the outer bastion for the northwest corner of Hitler's fortress. The Germans made little effort to defend the city. A few anti-aircraft and field guns offered only light resistance. General Patch's Seventh Army has taken 23,000 prisoners in this sector in the last 24 hours. General Patch's armoured forces reached Landsberg, under 30 miles from Munich, and other Seventh Army, troops reached the Austrian border, near Fussen, 50 miles south-west of Munich.

Reuters correspondent with the Third Army states that General Patton's tanks have crossed the Danube and his infantry are closing on Dachau, the largest concentration camp in Germany, eight miles north-west of Munich. Elements of six divisions are now advancing from the southern banks of the Danube.

"Do you want Augsburg? I can give it to you." This offer was made to the Americans by a German civilian who entered their lines shortly before the city fell. Augsburg is north-west of Munich.

This is the first evidence on the Seventh Army front of the existence of an anti-Nazi movement, say agency correspondents with the Seventh Army. The Americans were at first suspicious of the offer, but the civilian established that he was an industrialist and a member of the recently formed German Revolutionary party. American infantry forces, after three attempts at negotiation by this emissary and telephone calls to the city, were led into the town, where they found a general and 18 members of his staff in a bunker surrounded by civilians. , vlio foraxi them to surrender.