Allied Victory Banquet In Berlin

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 5

Allied Victory Banquet In Berlin

CELEBRATIONS TILL SUN UP RUGBY, May 9. The scene in the room where the Germans signed the unconditional surrender is described by a Berlin correspondent, who says that once the Germans had gone several hundreds of people in the room had their faces wreathed in smiles. Air Chief Marshal Tedder aaid Marshal Zhukov did a regular pumphandle handshake, and there were handshakings and congratulations all round. An hour or so later the room had a festive air. Russian girl waitresses laid the table for a typical Russian banquet. The toasts went on till after 4 a.m. Marshal Zhukov paid a handsome tribute to General Eisenhower. “He is a magnificent general—one of the most talented this war has produced,” he said. Air Chief Marshal Tedder recalled a toast he proposed in Moscow last January: “To our meeting in the ruins of Berlin. ’ ’ The sun was rising over the dead city of the defeated and broken aggressor as the Victory banquet broke up. Russian soldiers chatting or waiting in the street pulled up to the 'Salute in smart but friendly fashion as the • British, American, and French military envoys got into a fleet of cars to return to the business of winding up the war in Europe.

By special arrangement Reu tar’s world service, In addition to other special compilation of oversea intelligence published in this issue, and all rights therein In Australia and New Zealand ar reserved.