ALLEGATION BY RUSSIANS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24743, 7 December 1945, Page 5

ALLEGATION BY RUSSIANS

GERMAN FORCES IN BRITISH ZONE LARGE NUMBER SAID TO BE UNDER ARMS (Rec. 8 p.m.v LONDON) Dec. 5. Allegations that "mighty German armed forces are being maintained in the British zone in Germany" were made to-day by an official spokesman over -the Moscow radio. The spokesman was repeating and amplifying charges made in. a Russian memorandum which is now being considered by the Allied Control Council. Details of this memorandum have not been officially released, but it claims that German and satellite troops in the British zone have not been disarmed in compliance with the terms of the Potsdam agreement. The Moscow spokesman asked: "What are *he motives for preserving this force? How can it be reconciled with the Nuremberg trial?" He added: "Our misgivings can easily be understood. All peace-loving peoples demand that the Potsdam declaration terms should be closely adhered to.'" The Russian newspaper "Izvestia" alleges that altogether about 1,500,000 German and satellite troops remain fully armed and equipped in the Eritish zone. It says: "There is one German army group numbering 200.000 men complete' with land, air, and anti aircraft formations." "Izvestia" also claims that the German naval forces in the British zone are called the "minesweeping service" and have their own headquarters and flotijla. "The* troops are still armed,'.' adds "Izvestia," "and .include Hungcrian, Estonian, and Latvian units which, fought for. Germany. These forces draw rations from the British, and all the personnel wear rank' badges and decorations." The British Army of the Rhine announced to-day that 2,000,000 former German soldiers have been disbanded in the British occupation zone. Half e million which remain to be disbanded are retained for essential work or for eventual transfer to the French and Russian zones. The announcement added that it was planned to accelerate disbandment because the retention involved administrative commitments which the sharp decline of British rr&npower in Germany made impossible.

The Press Association's diplomatic correspondent says: "It can be disclosed that Marshal Zhukov, Russian representative on the Allied Control Council, has proposed.that a commission should be sent to the British zone of Germany to investigate the reports about the presence of German military units there. General Montgomery agreed, with the proviso that the commission should also visit the other zones and should be replaced by other commissions of inquiry into other aspects of administration in all the four zones of Germany. The question was finally ' referred to the Co-ordinating Committee.' The correspondent adds; "The facts are that it has been necessary, for purely administrative reasons, besides the shortage of British military personnel, to retain a number of German military personnel in the British zone." CENTRAL CONTROL IN GERMANY BIG THREE MAY ACT WITHOUT FRENCH CRec. 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 5. The United States Secretary of State (Mr James Byrnes) told a press, conference that the United States had informed France that the Big Three might establish central government agencies for their occupation zones in Germany if the French continued to oppose the creation of such agencies for the entire Reich, He added that the United States was vigorously opposed to the French contention that no central agencies should be established until the disposition of the Ruhr and the Rhineland was finally settled.