GERMAN SURRENDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 May 1945, Page 5

GERMAN SURRENDER

TRANSFER OF FLEET SURFACE CRAFT AND U-BOATS (Rec. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 11. Everything was ready for the first surrender of German surface craft at a British port, writes an “Evening News” reporter. There were between eight and 25 E-boats sailing from Rotterdam under British escort to Felixtowe. They were met halfway between Antwerp and the Thames by British vessels. Allied naval officers boarded the vessels to ensure there would be no repetition of Scapa Flow. The British escort was made up of nine motor-torpedo boats, one from each of the nine squadrons which engaged German marauders in the English Channel throughout the war. The German Admiral Breuning commanded the surrendering E-boats. Five more U-boats have given themselves up to the Royal Navy off the North Irish coast.

the North Irish coast. Six others reached the British ports of Weymouth and Locheriboll. Two more are due to enter Londonderry naval base to-day. All other U-boats at sea, with the exception of one possibly sunk, are now known to be on the way to Allied ports to surrender. German naval authorities informed the British Admiralty that the remainder of the U-boats, possibly up to 450, are surrendering in Germany or German occupied harbours. The remainder of the German fleet has surrendered at Copenhagen, seven U-boats have surrendered in British waters, and the fleet of Eboats which used to attack British shipping in the North Sea is expected at Felixstowe, where it will surrender. Other submarines have been seen flying a black flag to indicate that they are surrendering. Germany’s 60,000 ton super luxury liner Europa lies a sunken fire charred hulk in Bremerhaven harbour, reports the Associated Press correspondent. The Europa throughout the war was moored at Bremerhaven, where she served as billets for German troops nearby.

“RAMPART OF VICTORY.”

RUGBY, May 11.

General de Gaulle in a message to the First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet (Sir A.'Cunningham), referred to the British Navy as the “rampart of victory.” The Royal Navy, he said, had upheld its most glorious traditions and had ensured to itself the gratitude of its friends in France. In his reply, Admiral Cunningham said: “In the darkest hour we had the heartening company of ships of the French Navy, and we now look forward to further co-operation in eastern waters with our French allies.”

CONTROL OF GERMANY

LONDON, May 11

The Allied Military Government has clamped down an iron control on Germany, says an “Evening Standard” correspondent with the British Second Army. Two thousand arrests have been made in the Second Army's occupation zone. These are prominent Nazis, political suspects, collaborators, spies, Gestapo agents and war criminals among prisoners who are in gaols. Many Germans who have broken Military Government laws have summarily been tried and sentenced. Contravention of movements, restriction orders, concealment of firearms and evasion of the curfew are the principal offences. The unauthorised possession of firearms in some circumstances is a capital offence. One sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment has been imposed, and another of 10 years. Minor offences have been punished with sentences up to seven months’ imprisonment. The offenders have their rations halved.

OCCUPATION PLANS

WASHINGTON, May 10

Mr. Elmer Davis, Director of the Office of War Information, announc-, ed that all publications, films and business enterprises from the United States and other countries will be barred from Germany indefinitely. During military occupation the Allied Armies will control all newspapers and other publications, films and radio enterprises. The information sections of the occupying Governments will publish‘a few newspapers, magazines and books, and operate surviving radio stations. Most broadcasts within leach of ordinary sets will be from Allied nations, but Germans will be permitted to listen to programmes from nearby neutrals such as the, Swiss.

RUSSIAN MESSAGES

LONDON, May 11

Marshal Stalin sent a message to Mr. Churchill saying: “I salute the valiant British armed forces and the whole British people on the great victory.” Marshal Stalin expressed his “certainty” of a further development of friendly relations formed during the war. President Kalinin, in a message to the King, said co-operation in war would lead to fruitful collaboration in the future.

AXIS FUNDS

NEW YORK, May 11

The United States Government Departments have begun consideration of the problem of the disposal of the immense Axis funds that were seized by the United States Government at the outbreak of the war, reports the “Herald Tribune.” The Alien Property Custodian at present controls Axis assets valued at five hundred and fifty-four million dollars. Against this the Axis powers hold American properties worth one hundred and seventy-five million dollars. On the basis of these figures, the United States Government has no disposition to return the American held property to German individuals or corporations. DUNKIRK IN RUINS (N.Z.I’.A. Special,Correspondent) LONDON, May JI “It was an amazing sight,” said Group Captain D. J. Scott, D. 5.0., 0.8. E., D.F.C., who planned the last raids of the war on Dunkirk and who was one of the first to enter the famous port after its capitulation.

“I had never seen so many ruins in my life before,” he said. “Dunkirk was still under German discipline the day we were there—the surrender terms had only just been completed—and they were very punctilious about saluting us. We noticed that the uniforms of many German officers were frayed and worn, but were kept as neat as possible. They had most intricate and comfortable underground quarters, from which they could have continued fighting until we sent in a really strong force. They even had more than 1000 horses kept underground, and as for food, we saw 30 milking cows being driven along the road at one place, and there must have been many more. “In the short time we were there we also noticed much loot the Germans had taken from France and Belgium. We also saw the graves of Allied airmen shot down over Dunkirk, including one of a W.A.A.F. They were very well kept, with the inscription. ‘They died for England.’ The Germans were ordered to deposit their arms five miles outside the town, and this was going on while we were there. It seemed as if practically

every house was ruined—the Germans certainly do not like our rock-et-firing Typhoons.”

“GERMANY FINISHED.”

(Rec. 10.30) LONDON, Mav 11. Von Falkenhorst, Commander-In-Chief of German forces in Norway until last December, gave himself up to the Americans, reports the British United Press correspondent with the American 7th Army. The Gen-' eral said that the German General Staff always knew Germany could not win the war. “The Allies liberated the Germans from gangsters who held us in check for many years. Now we are able to think again and speak our minds. Germany is finished as a world power. You never need fear that she will rise again and wage another war. It would take a century to repair Germany to the point where it was in 1940.”