Trace At Calais To Evacuate Civilians

Northern Advocate, 30 September 1944, Page 5

Trace At Calais To Evacuate Civilians

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 29. The Canadians today captured Cap Gris Nez, 200 prisoners and eight crossChannel guns, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Canadian Ist Array. There is an eerie silence tonight at Calais. Allied gunners and infantrymen, observing a truce, are sitting on the outskirts of the port alongside the silent guns. Roads leading from Calais are crowded witty civilians trekking away from their homes.

A correspondent of the/ British United Press reports that the! German commander, his chief-of-staff and two interpreters who today negotiated the Calais truce for the evacuation of 20,000 civilians, arrived tyi a sports car for a meeting with the Canadian general. The Germans explained that the civilians lacked food and many had been killed and wo/unded. The Canadian general agreed to cease fire from 2 p.m. on September 29 to noon on September 30, and ,'also to send a French liaison officer to explain to the mayor that civilians must obey the German order to leave, which they hitherto were reluctant to do. Discussions lasting 45 minutes were carried out pleasantly and correctly. The Germans, all s'mall men, were continually eyeing the two six-foot-two Canadian provosts, who accompanied the general. One of the Canadian party said: "The German commander was strictly Prussian, a fat pompous j little guy, but pleasant enough. TCie Germans seemed very unhappy when we told them that the aerial ‘treatment’ would be resumed tomorrow.”

It is understood that the Germans al Calais refused unconditional surrender •and after the 10 hours' armistice fighting began again. A correspondent says that although the enemy still holds the town and port of Calais, it cannot be very long before Calais must fall.

The Canadians’ latest gains, including the capture of the Citadel, place the Canadians in a position to dominate the remaining defences. “It is only a matter of mopping-up now." stated a senior staff officer at headquarters on Thursday night. The garrison commander (General Schilling) is among the 200 taken prisoner at Cap Gris Nez.