RAID HAVOC ADDS TO BERLIN PROBLEMS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 162, 11 July 1945, Page 5

RAID HAVOC ADDS TO BERLIN PROBLEMS

GARRISON QUARTERS

Goering Barracks Badly

Damaged

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. noon. LONDON, July 10. Brigadier C. Ravenhill, administrative commander in the British sector of the Berlin- area, disclosed to-night that there were 15,000 British troops at present in Berlin on garrison duties. Outlining the British difficulties during the five days of occupation Brigadier Ravenhill said that the Hermann Goering barracks at Wedding, originally built for 12,000 men, had suffered in the battle of Berlin, consequently their accommodation was severely reduced. Nevertheless, no British troops of the regular Berlin garrison were under canvas. Then there was the problem of water. Havelsee and Gruenwald Lakes were so polluted that bathing had to be prohibited. Finally, no church could be used for church parades owing to the damage from air raids.

No* British soldiers had been reported on a fraternisation charge. He, personally, was satisfied that little fraternisation was going on. The Naafi Club and a Combined Welfare Club would operate at Lido, starting at the week-end, also two canteens and a beer garden on Havelsee with boating facilities. Plans were also advanced for officers' clubs. , , , " The British authorities had taken over three cinemas in their area and were operating a mobile cinema section with seven projectors. Every British soldier could see two films weekly. Five swimming pools had been requisitioned, one of which was the' celebrated pool of the Olympic Games Stadium. The shortage of drinks was being remedied, the British having unearthed a brewery in Spandau. The first batch of men for United Kingdom leave left Berlin yesterday by road and arrangements were being made for direct leave planes to London. „ „ , The total amount of food, petrol and stores brought daily to the capital by British convoy was 500 tons. A direct air service gave the soldiers a 70-hour letter and newspaper service, to and from the United Kingdom.