THE OCCUPATION

Grey River Argus, 15 May 1945, Page 5

THE OCCUPATION

Trieste Crisis ALLIES INSIST ON STAYING. TITO’S CLAIM REJECTED. NEW YORK, May 13. The United States to-day took a firm stand against Tito’s demand that the Allied forces withdraw from' Trieste, reports ' the “Herald-Tri-bune’s” Washington correspondent. The Acting-Secretary of State (Mr. Grew) issued a statement: “One of the most difficult problems to be solved will be the just, equitable solution of the territorial questions, which for many years plagued Europe. The Allies have been officially informed it is the United States’ firm policy that territorial changes should be made only after a thorough study and after full consultation and deliberation between the various Governments concerned. Only on this basis can adequate consideration be given to the human, economic and political elements involved, and a just, stable solution found. There are 30 or more territorial questions in Europe requiring careful study before decisions can be reached, including the much disputed north-eastern frontierse of Italy. Many months ago, it was decided the best way to avoid hasty, precarious solutions in the British-American theatre of operations was to establish an Allied Military Government. Apart from the fact that this is a British-American theatre and Bri-tish-American troops forced the surrender of the German garrison at Trieste, the disputed areas are temporarily of prime importance from the military point of view. Since the Allied occupation forces require an administration zone with adequate port facilities, lines of communication and supply leading to Central Europe, it was deemed particularly essential to establish Allied control. Proposals regarding this -were presented to and accepted by Tito last February. Notwithstanding this agreement, claims have now been advanced that by virtue' of conquest the Yugoslav forces are entitled forthwith to occupy and control the administration of this region. This Government reiterates its view that disinterested military government is essential in Venezia Giulia, in order not to prejudice through sudden unilateral action taken in the flush ol victory, the final solution corresponding to the problems and principles involved. The present problem is far more than a frontier controversy between two claimants. It raises the issue of the settlement of international disputes by orderly processes rather than unilateral action. The disposition of Venezia Giulia must await a definite peace settlement in which the claims of bom sides will receive a full, fair hearing, or be made a matter for direct negotiations freely entered into between ihe parties involved. No territorial problem can be solved by proclamations issued in the wake of an army on the march.” LONDON, May 13. Belgrade radio quoted a Yugoslav. Government spokesman as denying that Yugoslavia had wanted to present the world with an accomplished fact by an occupation of the Trieste-Istria-Slovene littoral. The radio also denied the reports of atrocities by the Yugoslavs. It claimed that it is natural that the Yugoslav Army, after liberating the area by heavy sacrifices ~should desire to remain in occupation like other Allies. A Reuter correspondent at Allied Mediterranean Headquarters stated: The desert air force, which comnienced oporations in scorching heat in the desert is now working among snow-clad peaks of the Austrian Alps. From an Austrian airfield, it is carrying out reconnaissance missions, seeking out surrendering Germans. Allied soldiers will remain at Trieste to operate the port, and Yugoslav forces will remain in occupation of the major part of the city. There has been an agreement between Marshal Tito and an emissary from Alexander’s headquarters in the discussions following the Yugoslav Government’s demand for the withdrawal of the British and .American forces which occupied the port part of the city. The Allied Command insisted on remaining in possession of the port for supplying the occupation forces in Austria

DECREES AGAINST NAZIS. LONDON, May 13. The Flensburg radio announced that the Allied Military Government had issued a number of decrees, including the dissolution of the National Socialist Party and the establishment of English as the official language. The Allies have cancelled the Hitler Youth Act. Reich Citizenship Act, and other Nazi laws, including that prohibiting the organisation of political parties, curtailed the jurisdiction of German law courts and established low and' higher military courts. The Allies also prohibited the publication of periodicals, dissolved the Propaganda Ministry and ordered curfew between .10.45 p.m. and 6 a.m. The American War Department did not define the American occupation area, but said the Amercian Government unit would be divided into 12 major divisions, corresponding generally to the Ministries of. the German'Central Government.- American Military Government would continue its special intelligence section to detect and ruthlessly, suppress any Nazi underground activities. LOOTED ART TREASURES (Rec. 1.50) “LONDON, May 14 An Associated Press corresponrent stated: Huge piles of priceless paintings and other art treasures looted by the Germans are lying in a Neuschwanstein castle, occupied by the U.S. Seventh Army. There are statues, silverware and jewels of which the authorities are trying to find tne owners. Among the paintings ate Rembrants. Reynolds Vandyckes. .Some are. believed to be from Rot “ s child’s collections and other from the King of Belgian’s collections Marshal Goering, in a four page lei ter to Dr. Rosenberg. (Nazi leader) dated November 21, 1944, enthused over the b °? jectives that he “found in * r ance. He offered the full ’ Ger . Luftwaffe to remove them to Get many. He emphasised that they weie for the private glorification of self ami Hitler. There were to be two museums, one honouring it and the other Goering, to be piesei ed to the German people on Goeimgs sixtieth birthday.

7TH ARMY PRISONERS LONDON. May 13. •German military personnel taken into custody by the• let ot included Doctor Damn g e pn the Reich Chancellery. General ( bepp Dietrich. “Butchei o seventh ’ Army captured also by' tl-- ited Press JffSLom SX claimed that he Wt the Nazi party seven years ago for a RUSSIAN CAPTURES. ToNDON, May 13. A Soviet communique states:— A faovie Leningrad Command ForC rontinuing to accept the surrenare troops, and to-day acthe surrender of 399,994 Gerce v ted the- ides 2235 officers and 14 a geX?s Troops of the 2nd White

Russian Command at the Vistula’s mouth, east of Danzig and northwest of Gdynia, captured 15.833 Germans. Trooos of the Ist, 4th and 3rd Ukrainian Command in Czechoslovakia and Austria accepted the surrender of 145,000 Germans and four generals. Troops of the 2nd Ukrainian Command captured 234,459 German troops, besides eight generals, including Lieutenant-Gen-eral Liberuann. commander at Brno. ARRESTED POLISH LEADERS. LONDON, May 13. Moscow papers reiterated charges of diversionist activities against the sixteen Polish leaders, supporters of the London Government , who are under arrest. “Pravda” said: They were responsible for the deaths ot ■ more than 100 Red Army officers and men This monstrous crime, as well as the identities of the organisers and participators have been established. ROUMANIAN EX-PREMIER RELEASED. LONDON, May 12. Radescu, a former Roumanian Prime Minister, who was given refuge in the building of the British political delegation .at Bucharest after the overthrow of his Government last March, has, it is understood, left the building this week, sufficient assurances regarding his safety hav- ' ing been obtained from the Roumanian Government. 400 LIBERATED PRISONERS. DIE OF/DRINKING POISON ALCOHOL. (Rec. 8.40.) LONDON, May 14. An Associated Press correspondent at Nuremburg stated: The deaths of more than four hundred liberated prisoners of war, through their drinking methyl alcohol, have been reported to American Third Aimy authorities by a Russian liaison officer. These prisoners of war, apparently, mistook the poisonous alcohol for a drinkable variety when they found it in an abandoned goods tram near their camp. sth ARMY ON SWISS FRONTIER. (Rec. 7.20). LONDON, May 14. Fifth Army forces, penetrating the Simplon Pass, have reached the Swiss frontier. ROMMEL’S MISTAKE. TANKS WRONGLY PLACED FOR D DAY. (Rec. 9.40). LONDON, May. 14. Colonel-General Guderian, former German Chief of Staff, and a noted tank' expert, voiced his opinion in an interview with a British United Press correspondent at Berchtesgaden, alter his capture, on the tank operations after D Day. He said that the Germans could have smashed the. Allied tank invasion of Normandy if the German tank reserves had been distributed deeply in France, and had not been concentrated instead along its coast, as Marshal Rommel had ordered. General Guderian pleaded for leniency for Germany. He said: “The soldier, after battle, feels at home with other soldiers. It is like a lootball match, when y,ou shake hands and wish each other luck. Business men and politicians, unfortunately, feel and act otherwise.” VICTORY PARADE. (Rec. 12.40.) LONDON, May 14. Five thousand kilted troops from the famous 51st. Highland Division led by 100 pipers, marched through tlie wrecked down of Wesermunde in first ceremonial victory parade held in occupied Germany. The corps commander, Lieutenant-General B. G. Horrocks, took the salute from immaculate troops, W'ho paraded with gleaming guns, and freshly painted armoured vehicles, which only nine days ago were coated with mud from the last battle against the Germans. General Florrocks and the United States Admiral A. G. Robinson, inspected a guard of honour in which were American sailors and troops, and the Black Watch. HUNT FOR NAZI ASSETS. LONDON, May 13. Financial authorities from the British-Military Government in Germany are already tracking down fortunes of Nazi leaders and officials which are hidden at home and abroad. Colonel Peter Stampe, a former banker, now Financial Chief of the British Military Government, stated that a blocking control had already been established with a view to the total eradication of all Nazi assets m finance and real estate, in Germany or abroad. Foreign exchange property controls are also operating under which the authorities hoped to uncover the devious underground means whereby the Germans transferred assets abroad. Eight giant packing cases full oi. jewellery and other valuables worth hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, have been found hidden in cellars in the Second Army area. This is mostly the property of Dutch and Jewish families.