Crossing of the Czech Border

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 93, 20 April 1945, Page 5

Crossing of the Czech Border

LONDON, April 18. Forces of th„ United States Third Army cross..! the Czechoslovakia border on Wednesday in great strength ; Correspondents at General Patton’s headquarters were allowed to send out one flash message reporting this major crossing of the border before a security silence was imposed. General Patton’s 90th Division entered Czechoslovakia at 9.65 a.m. nortnwest of As, after an eight-mile dash from Hoi, says a correspondent with ' V* e rhir d Army. The last lap of the ' arlve . which cut Germany into two parts, was made without opposition except for a brief flurry of gunfire in a i village a mile from the border, Thirty--1 flve Germans surrendered there after tiring token shots. Tne Americans ran into brisk fire ; after crossing the border near Gott- ' “hflflsgrun, six miles northwest of As 1 at the extreme tip of Czechoslovakia’ | out they penetrated for two miles. As soon as the border was crossed in- ; fMrtrymen who rede on the too of ; taakii ceremoniously erected a sign ! read lflg, '’You are now entering • Czechoslovakia by courtesy of the ; Third Battalion, 358th Infantry.” ' added the postscript, "Now you may fraternise, by courtesy of the 1 same outfit.” The troops entering Czechoslovakia ! took special packets of sweets and cigarettes to give the Czechs, since they are now in a country where fraternisa- , tl0 “ is allowed, but the Czechs were , ver y war Y> fearing that the Germans may return. The British United Press correspondent says that one Czech begged him not to mention his name, "because my Sudeten German neighbours will got me when you have gone.” The Americans left chocolates and cigarettes on the window-sills of Czech houses. It can now be revealed that an operational boundary line has been drawn through Germany between the American and Russian forces beyond which it is presumed, neither side will advance, reports the British United Press correspondent at Shaef. It seems certain that General Bradley’B 12th Army group will be given the task of destroying the German armies before they reach the southern redoubt. Our pilots have reported thousands of German vehicles heading south in the past fortnight.