ENEMY SURRENDER IN PARIS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 284, 28 August 1944, Page 5

ENEMY SURRENDER IN PARIS

Toulon Liberated

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) * l ot (Received August 27, 11.15 p.m.) 1 / LONDON, August 27. Inside Paris, all formal resistance has ceased. The German garrison in Paris which surrendered is estimated to number 10,000. One strongpoint is still holding out at Champigny in the south-eastern part of the city. Enemy groups are still fighting in the north-east and north-west suburbs, but except for sporadic sniping, all formal resistance appears to have ended in the city itself. On the southern coast, French forces have completed the liberation of the great naval base or Tmdon. ... • - ' -

Two new crossings of the Seine have been made above RouenThe British entered Vernon and Louviers and crossed the river in both places, reports a correspondent at supreme headquarters. The Foret de Londe, the eastern end of which is seven miles south-west of Rouen, has been cleared of the enemy. Mopping-up operations between.the outskirts of Paris and the Mantes bridgehead are meeting opposition. Brisk fighting is reported between Corbeil and the bridgehead across the Seine. Yesterday was another classic day of destruction from the air of the last battered remnants of the Seventh German Army still on the west banks of the Seine and of those elements which succeeded in getting across and trying to make their way north-eastward on the general line of the great retreat. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, 1 00 heavy Allied bombers have been operating each hour and a great weight of bombs has been sent down on the struggling enemy columfis.

The Exchange Telegraph correspondent says there is little about the streets of Paris to indicate that the battle for the city has just ended. Tanks and armoured cars are still patrolling the boulevards, but early this morning Parisians crowded the streets on their way to work. There is still a definite holiday mood, but the people are trying to get the city back to normal.' Nearly a dozen different nevyspiipers, some bearing well-known prewar names, have already appeared. All devoted much space to the fighting for the liberation of the capital and to General de Gaulle’s activities. Do Gaulle in Paris. Amid shouts of “Vive de Gaulle” and singing of the “Marseillaise,” General de Gaulle placed a wreath on the Arc de Triomphe. In a speech he said: ft is the attitude of the soldiers of the exterior as well as of the interior which has enabled France to know victory after knowing suffering. Today France stands with all her children among the victors in the second world conflict.” Thousands of Parisians today left the city in search of food, reports the Pans correspondent of the Associated I less of Great Britain. The food shortage was critical in parts of Paris after the transport strike and the three-day battle for the city, but some families had previously laid in stores for such an emergency. Hotels quartering American officers had nothing for breakfast but hot water, the soldiers supplying their own coffee rations. There is no shortage of alcoholic drinks throughout Paris. In Rome thousands of Italians sang the “Marseillaise” in front of the French Embassy when they heard the news or the fall of Paris. They paraded and cheered as they never did for the Duce, and shouted “Long Live France. Long Live Heroic France.” s The French have made important Progress in mopping up resistance in the Toulon area, reports a Rome correspondent. They have captured I'ort d’Artiques and F<At Malbousquet., Further progress has also, been made toward eliminating the remaining resistance in Marseilles, where the Germans have caused much damage by demolitidns. and wrecking the quays, warehouses, dry-docl s, and port facilities. One harbour entrance has been partially blocked by sinking a ship. Other ships have been scuttled and sunk away from the quaysides or used to obstruct internal berths and the main harbour entrance.