FLOODS RELEASED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25181, 19 April 1945, Page 5

FLOODS RELEASED

GERMANS IN HOLLAND

ESCAPE EFFORTS CONTINUE (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 18 German troops in Northern Holland, fleeing from the Canadians, have turned the waters of " the Zuider Zee into the lowlands north of Hilversum, flooding the area between Utrecht and Amsterdam. They are trying to escape to the western side of the Zuider Zee by embarking at Harderwijk. A Canadian correspondent says the waters were allowed to pour in over fields north of Utrecht and south-west of Amsterdam. The flood control system is an essential part of the defences of the enemy's "fortress" in Holland, which includes Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam, The Hague and Hilversum. The Canadian armoured sweep northwest of Arnhem upset the Germans' defence plan and they had to resort to flooding much earlier than intended. Progress of Canadians Reuter's correspondent savs the dykes which the Germans have blown up are believed to be those holding back the water from the populated area in the south-west corner north of Hilversum. If the Germans blew up the great dam across the top of the Zuider Zee, which takes the form of a 25-mile causeway, the level of the Zuider Zee, which is two feet higher than the North Sea, would fall.

The Canadians have cleared Apeldoorn, captured Harlingen and reached the east end of the Zuider Zee causeway. They crossed the canal, which had been barring their way to Apeldoorn. Tanks, which have cut the road from Apeldoorn to Amersfoort in two places, are now thrusting into Barneveld. Large shipping convoys, including several 1000-ton vessels, hugged fringes of the Frisian Islands yesterday in a persistent movement to the east, indicating that the German High Command has called for further evacuation of the Western Holland rocket coast. Planes Attack Ships

Fighters and fighter-bombers of the Second Tactical Air Force swept over the ships and hit three 1000-ton vessels off Borkum Island in the first attack o'f the day. Barges moving from the Zuider Zee into the Ems Estuary were bombed from low level. Considerable barge movements were seen in the Zuider Zee path of the Canadian advance.

Reports from the Tactical Air _ Force said more ships were steaming in the iee of Terschelling Island.

It is now revealed that two battalions of French parachutists comprised the airborne force which helped to liberate Northern and North-eastern Holland, states the Daily Telegraph correspondent with the Canadians. They were dropped on April 7 and 8 and, after extraordinary adventures, were relieved by the land forces. They had held out in small pockets for four or five days. An airborne officer described these Frenchmen as temperamental as bullfighters and prima donnas,bbutt t said he could hardly find words to praise their offensive spirit. MURDERS AND SUICIDES PEGAU GREETS AMERICANS (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 18 A* wave of suicides and murders among the Nazis accompanied the American capture of Pegau, stated an Associated Press correspondent. As American tanks broke in the burgomeister shot himself, the chief of the police killed his family and himself and an S.S. trooper shot his wife and two daughters and tried to slash h;s own wrists with a razor. GENERALS PROMOTED PATTON AND HODGES LONDON, April 17 President Truman has nominated Lieutenant-General G. Patton, commander of the United States Third Army, and Lieutenant-General C. Hodges, commander of the United States First Army, to be full generals. NEW BRITISH TANK LONDON, April 17 Britain's latest tanks, details of which are secret, are leading the British armourea advance into' Germany, says the Exchange Telegraph correspondent with the Second Army. Tank crews are most enthusiastic about them. The new tanks so far have encountered only one Panther, which was knocked out with the first shot from a range of 1000 yards. BRITISH COMMUNISTS (Eecd. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, April 17 ' The Communist Party in Britain has decided to endorse only 22 Parliamentary candidates in place of the previous. 52. The party stated it had placed before the Labour Party propo«sals for an electoral alliance.