FIGHTING IN PRAGUE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 7

FIGHTING IN PRAGUE

GERMANS STILL ACTIVE. CZECH APPEAL FOR HELP. (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY. May 7. “Heavy lighting in the streets of Prague continues,” says a message reaching Czechoslovak circles in London alter Doenitz liad surrendered. “The Germans arc throwing hand grenades at houses showing Czechoslovak flags and German aircraft have been dropping bombs oil Broadcasting House and on other public buildings in the centre of the city. “German troop movements have been observed in the area of Melnik, 25 miles north of Braguc, and in the Bencsov district, 40 miles due south of Prague, towards the capital, 'the Czech National Council calls urgently upon the Allies lor speedy help, particularly for aircraft.” According to tlie German-con-trolled radio, the Red Army is launching attacks on the German positions in Bohemia Irom the area of Saxony, between Dresden and Chemnitz. The attacks, says the radio, are being made with Very strong forces supported by fairly large tank columns. 'I ho Red Army has made advances along the Dres-dcn-Chcmnitz motor loud. A delicate situation has arisen in Czechoslovakia, where the fortunes of war made necessary the movement of the United States Third Army to aid the Prague patriots. 'The Third Army entered territory scheduled as a Red Army zone of operations.' The German commander (Sclioerncr) is exploiting the situation by making no serious attempt to oppose the Americans. while offering the s-trongest opposition' to the Russians. The Ger-man-controlled radio in Fragile suggested that the Americans were arriving in Prague to rescue the Germans from the Red Army and emphasised the intor-Allicd dispute over Poland. Correspondents report that a security silence covers tlie movements ol tlie three Russian armies south-east, south and north of Prague, It is known that the eastern end of the Czechoslovak pocket is crumbling under the two-way pressure. The Russians alter storming Sternberg turned north ward against Hohenstadt, where lighting is going on in the outskirts.

Three hundred S.S. troops have established a redoubt in the woods north of Hamburg where they are defying the .British to “come and get them,” says the Associated Press eoiTCStioifdeut at Hamburg. The German authorities have agreed to disarm 'them. If they fail the Second Army will take military action. The S.S. troops so far have not waged guerrilla warfare against the-British, but have made a number of raids against a nearby German \ / lage.

BRESLAU DEFENCE ENDS GARRISON’S LONG STAND. (Ref. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. The German-controlled Prague radio announced the end of the lighting in Breslau. “The heroic epic of Breslau ceased last night, alter the city bail been encircled for 82 days. Ammunition was beginning to run short and the gallant defenders had Ip give Way to tile enemy's massed material, hut the garrison pinned down forces Which Would have, been Useful elsewhere.”