DOCILE CIVILIANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25001, 18 September 1944, Page 5

DOCILE CIVILIANS

FRIGHTENED BY NAZIS REACTION IN BORDER TOWN (Heed. 5.35 p.m.). LONDON. Sept. 10 "The general attitude among the Germans in this town seems to be that, the man in the street is quite willing to switch masters," says the British United Press correspondent, cabling from Kornelimunster, south-east of Aachen, yesterday. "After three days in Germany we have found the civilian masses surprisingly docile. "There was a brief impression of hostility when the invasion began, but this seems to have been produced mainly through fear instead of resentment. The Nazis told the civilians that the British and American invasion forces would loot and pillage the towns and murder the civilians. The people, however, find that we leave them alone, and they seem to be satisfied. "There is no sign of German grief at the plight of their army. Inside this town girls cycled round our ammunition lorries, and old men stood in groups smoking placidly in the sun while the invasion army rolled by." ARMING JOURNALISTS CONFLICTING EXPERIENCE LONDON. Sept. ](i British war correspondents, as a result of their own request, are being armed with tommy-guns and Sten guns beforeentering Germany. Reuter's correspondent with the British Second Army says preliminary reports indicate that German civilians generally are hostile to Allied troops. The correspondents therefore consider arms a necessary precaution. DUNKIRK AREA MORE STRONGPOINTS TAKEN (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 10 The Allies closing on the Channel ports have captured two more strongpoints in the Dunkirk area. Canadian gunners are manning captured gun sites.