FIRST CONTACTS

Evening Star, Issue 25470, 28 April 1945, Page 7

FIRST CONTACTS

"RUSSKV-'AMERIGANSKY" AND A BEARLIKE HUG (Rec. 12.35 p;m.) LONDON, April 27. Once the first contacts were made, hundreds more Russians and Americans swarmed toward one another on either side of the river, says the 'Daily Mail's ' correspondent. Every skiff and rowing boat for miles was used to ferry the troops back and forth. Some capsized, others collided, throwing the troops into the water, but nobody cared. The usual greeting was a bearlike hug, accompanied by the words " Rusky," " Americansky." Almost every Russian soldier wore either an S.S. sword or a German pistol. A great army of British, Czech, French, Belgian, Dutch, and other Allied, prisoners streamed across the Elbe as the link-up began. They joined wholeheartedly in the proceedings, linked arms, singing songs in a dozen languages, and doing their national dances. One Russian soldier stepped up to a correspondent, said reverently " Roosevelt," and took off his cap, looking grave. Prisoners who participated in the celebrations came from all parts_ of Britain and the Empire. An Irish sergeant of the British Army was "captured " at Torgau before the (Russians and Americans linked up there. He. was one of the inmates of nearby Fot-

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zinna, which was the largest military prison in Germany. The guards fled a few days ago, leaving administration in the hands of the prisoners. The Irishman on April 25 got hold of some cognac somewhere, and decided to go into Torgau and buy his wife a present He was swaying down the street, when German civilians, seeing the British uniform, decided that the Allied forces had arrived, and. put out white flags. The American patrol, which subsequently made contact with the Russians across the river, arrived soon afterwards.

Describing the first meeting of the commanders, a correspondent says: The American, Major-general Reinhardt, crossed the river in a German rowing boat. An army of Russian and American photographers and news reel men besieged him when he reached the east bank. Then, down the hillside towards the river marched a large group of Russian officers, a Russian general leading them. He wore a green uniform, with several rows of medal ribbons. The whole party then walked up the hill to the barracks, where Red army girls served champagne.