AIR' POWER WON WAR

Grey River Argus, 11 May 1945, Page 5

AIR' POWER WON WAR

SAYS MARSHAL KESSELRING. N.Z. CUSTOMS' CRITICISED. (Rec. 11.10). ' ~ LONDON, May 10. Marshal Kesselring met press representatives in a luxurious special train in Austria. He said that it was the Allied air superiority which defeated Germany. Reasons for defeat were: (1) Allied strategic bombing; (2) attacks by low-flying fighter planes; (3) terror raids against the German civilian population. He was certain that Hitler had died rather than fall into the hands of the Russians alive. Marshal Kesselring said: “Hitler would have welcomed an opportunity to make peace with Britain and America at any time. The Fuehrer was a genius in the operations sense, and in his conceptions. I. only regret that Hitler had to direct Germany’s military and economic life. He was overtaxed with the weight of the pi oblems.” Kesselring singled out Marshal Montgomery, to whom he referred to as “Monty”; Aii; Marshal Tedder, and General Fatton as commanders who had won his respect. He asserted: “The German soldier was superior to the Russian soldier. We were not satisfied with some of the customs of the New Zealanders, but every people has its customs.” Marshal Kesselring denied that Germany ever intended to use gas. He said he had put no faith in ‘V” weapons.

Over Three Million U.S. Troops TO LEAVE EUROPE WITHIN A . YEAR (Received 10.35 p.m. Mav 10) . WASHINGTON, "May 9 The United States Army has announced that approximately two millions 837 thousand troops will be moved from Europe within nine months, and three million one hundred thousand within one vear, thus leaving an estimated occupation force of four hundred thousand. The majority will come to the United States, and they will either be re-deployed to the Pacific, or discharged. Others will be sent direct from Europe to the Pacific. GOERING A PRISONER LONDON, May 9. Reich Marshal Goering was captured by the Americans of the 7th. Army in Bavaria. He said he had been in that area since March, when Hitler sentenced him to death. He escaped after being condemned to death because he suggested he should take over the leadership from Hitler. S.S. troops arrested him but Luftwaffe later rescued him. He said he was arrested on Hitler’s instructions and taken to Berchtesgaden, where he was told he had been sentenced to death because he told Hitler that further resistance was useless and peace should be sought. Goering said he believed that Hitler died in Berlin on April 28. Pie did not use' the Nazi salute when he surrendered to the Assistant Divisional Commander, Brigadier-General Stack. He exchanged the military salute and shook hands. He said: “I was in Berchtesgaden and spoke to Hitler by telephone. I reminded him of his statement to me that if anything happened I was to . assume command. I explained my view that it looked like the end. Hitler flew' into one of the characteristic rages and screamed: ‘You have signed your own death warrant, but if you renounce all your titles and honours you will be forgiven.’ I complied, but Hitler nevertheless ordered my execution and had me placed under arrest.” He added that after S.S. troops arrested him, Luftwaffe followers shot their way through S.S. men and carried him (Goering) to his mountain hide-out of which the S.S. troops were unaware. Goering seemed in excellent health and high spirits. He is apparently unaware that aitei escaping one death sentence he is likely to face another as a war cumina Goering’s wife and child are also in the custody of the Seventh Army. Frau Goering wept continually aftei nnnrehension, but Goering did not g?ve the impression of a man undei the influence of drugs as was recentis' aHo a caplive of the Americans in Bavana. GOERING’S DECORATIONS (Bee 9.30) ~~LONDON, May 9 Marshal Goering complained the. • lialf g his decorations in bombed Berchtesdagen, but the Grand Cross of Knights Cioss 'With diamonds and brilliants (the only one of its kind in Germany), an the Order Pour le his neck, and a chain of Luftwaffe decorations dangled from his left breast. Goering was short, but was not cross, as cartoonists depicted him He posed for photographers, and he asked them to hurry because he wanted to eat. One photographer said: “And drink?” After lunch, Goering was flown to the Seventh Army' Headquarters. Before the flight there was a discussion as to whether the plane were big enough to hold Goering. He asked how many the plane was capable of carrying, .and when told it took two, he replied, with his eye gleaming: “I have plenty of bigger ones!” QUISLING A PRISONER LONDON, May 9. Vidkun Quisling, who was head ot the German-controlled Government in Norway, has given himself up to the Norwegian police. Quisling and several of his Ministers are in custody in Oslo police station. Quisling was pale and shaking all over. He knocked at the door of the famous Gestapo prison at Oslo at 9 a.m. and announced he wished to

place himself at the disposal of the authorities. . Charles Hoff, the Quisling sports leader and Olympic pole vaulter, was arrested late last night in his home at Olso. The Propaganda Minister, Fulesang, also surrendered to the authorities. ~ , , When Quisling surrendered he was anonyed that a suitcase was taken from him. The suitcase contained chocolate and a bottle of hrandv. He objected to being locked in a cell and stated:’“Statesmen lii-p me shouldn’t have an ordinary cell” The'police told him that all Prisoners were treated alike. He had for c ome time delivered speeches about"“all the good things he’did for Norway.”