A FREE AUSTRIA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 122, 25 May 1945, Page 5

A FREE AUSTRIA

ARMY PROCLAMATION

PEOPLE'S OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) Rec. 9 a.m. LONDON, May 24. . "All German political control of Austria is abolished. Your political ties and obligations -of obedience to Germany are hereby terminated." This was stated by Field-Marshal Alexander in a proclamation to the Austrian people on the occasion of the entry of his troops into Austria. The proclamation added: "All Austrians who are not guilty of crimes under the Hitlerite tyranny will be able to help create a free and independent Austria. The Allied forces enter your country as victors because Austria waged the war as an integral part of Germany, but the Austrians have an opportunity to contribute to •their own liberation by fully co-oper-ating." Field-Marshal Alexander said that pending the establishment of an Allied commission h.e was invested with supreme legislative, judicial, and executive authority within the territory occupied by his forces, and that a military government had been established to exercise these powers under his direction. R.A.F. Spitfires of the Desert Air Force, operating, from Lagenfurt from dawn to dusk, are covering the movements of Allied troops into their new positions in the Trieste area, says Reuters Rome correspondent. Spitfires flying in pairs are maintaining constant watch over north-east Italy and south Austria, covering the road movements of Yugoslav partisans besides their own troops.