SOLDIERS REJOICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 135, 9 May 1945, Page 5

SOLDIERS REJOICE

BRITISH TROOPS IN REICH. NO HOLIDAY FOR V ARMY. (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 8. VE-Dav was celebrated by over 100,000 British troops in Germany . with bonfires, Verey lights of a dozen colours and festivities in every mess and billet from the Rhine to' the Elbe and from the Baltic to Brussels, reports Renter's correspondent with the Second Army. Toasts were drunk to those who had fallen and to lasting peace. There were prayers in stables, fields, tents and German homes. Sonic men sang popular songs accompanied by mouth organs, bagpipes or accordions and others speculated about Japan. There was no general VE-Day holiday for the troops. Reveille sounded at 6.30 a.m. as usual. Everyone was conscious that the 60,000,000 Germans cooped in the prisoner-of-war compounds, waiting in bread queues or wandering about aimlessly must be controlled. The French Press greeted VE-Day with photographs of the late Mr Roosevelt, Mr Churchill, Marshal Stalin, President Truman, and General de Gaulle. The Russian newspapers gave no hint that any special announcement could be expected, but the shops were crowded with people buying extra food for victory parties.. The news of the capitulation was anouneed throughout Greece at 6 a.m. today after which sirens sounded, church bells tolled and salutes were fired, but although thousands thronged the streets of Athens they were surprisingly quiet and subdued. In Cairo Allied troops and Egyptians celebrated Germany's surrender by dancing through the streets _ of Cairo. The announcement coincided with Egypt's national holiday. In Jerusalem services were held in the synagogues throughout the country. Children in the berlagged streets of Tel Aviv and, Haifa collected funds for the "Victory Forest" to be planted in honour of Jewish soldiers.

Apart from a spontaneous native war dance from South African troops, the victory news did not create much enthusiasm among servicemen in Ceylon. They realise that their job is not yet over, but the civilians gave themselves up to rejoicing and sang marching songs until late into the night. The news was hailed with joy and'enthusiasm throughout India.