SPEEDING NORTH

Evening Star, Issue 25473, 2 May 1945, Page 6

SPEEDING NORTH

BRITISH ARMOURED DIVISION LINK-UP WITH RUSSIANS IMMINENT CHAOS AND CONFUSION ON GERMAN SIDE (Rec. noon.) LONDON, May 1. Field-Marshal Montgomery, with fresh formations of infantry and armour swarming across the Elbe hourly, will link up with the'Russian forces" to the east any clay, says Renter's correspondent witli the British Second Army. Opposition is light, with no real strongpoints, and thousands of German soldiers and civilians are joining in mass surrender. Fresh evidence is coming in hourly of growing chaos and con- j fusion on the German side. There is marked lack of control and cohssion," which our commanders are exploiting. It is impossible to say when and where the first contact with the Red army will be made, or who will make it, but we have expert information on Red army signs and shapes, and the Tactical Air Force fighter-bombers are keeping a sharp lookout for identification.

While the Eleventh Armoured Division is speeding north towards Lubeck —a port almost within range of the heavy guns—the rest of the British line 'beyond the Elbe follows approximately the Hamburg-Berlin railway, an'd the only intact troops facing.them are two regiments of German infantry. The Germans ca'.l our Eleventh Armoured Division's spearheads racing towards Lubeck " Churchill's butchers." Field-Marshal Montgomery is on the Elbe with his mighty force, which is growing.