MASSING ARMIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25797, 19 March 1945, Page 5

MASSING ARMIES

WARNINGS TO CIVILIANS ADDRESSED BY BOTH SIDES (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 18. . Reuter's correspondent at Fieldmarshal Montgomery’s headquarters says the Germans are determinedly seeking information along the northern Rhine front where a great massing of Allied armies continues. The situation of the German armies on this front is becoming increasingly precarious as their communications are pounded to pieces behind them by the Air Force, and as Americans in the south debouch on to the north-south autobahn from the Remagen bridgehead. The Germans are fighting the expansion of the Remagen bridgehead and concentrating their main defences in towns, even where rugged, hilly country offers favourable positions for resistance. Agency correspondents with the First Army report that the German self-propelled guns are offering stubborn fight. The 8.8.C.’s European service on General Eisenhower’s instruction has broadcast warnings to civilians and , foreign workers in the Frankfurt-on-Main, Mannheim, and Ludwigshafen areas, that the whole armaments industry centred in these places would be subjected to merciless bombardment. Civilians are advised to remove their families immediately to a safe place outside the combat area. “ From now on no shelter or refuge can be considered safe. These districts will become death traps.” The broadcaster explained that the reason for the warning was that the Allies were determined to destroy not the German people, but the German war machine. “ You live on key areas of the German war industry which for years have supplied the weapons of conquest,” he said. “Now it merely delays the final military collapse.” The first German civilian who wilfully defied the curfew was shot dead at Rhdydt to-day, says Reuter’s correspondent with the Ninth Army. He refused to stop when challenged, and a shot was fired over his head, but he still refused. He was then shot dead. Desertions a Problem

The German News Agency, in an appeal to the Germans which will be appearing in German newspapers tomorrow, says: “The enemy lately has been trying to send agents in German uniform through the lines to stir up unrest in the rear and to demoralise German troops. There have been, as a result of this subversive influence, single cases of soldiers shirking their duty and deserting the colours. The .co-operation of the whole population is needed to check desertions. Genuine German soldiers are under the army’s welfare. They have not the need to apply to civilians for food and lodgings. Civilians, who from false kindheartedness offer a soldier food or a billet, will assist the enemy’s secret service.” Engineers Rattled It has come to light, following the capture of a Prussian engineer officer, that a Germain captain is being courtmartialled to-day at Model's Army Group headquarters for his failure to blow up the Ludendorff railway bridge at Remagen, says a First Army correspondent. The officer says he has seen the court-martial papers which refer to the “ Remagen affair.” The accused captain, who commanded a pioneer company, detailed to blow a bridge, is called upon to explain why he should not be shot for failure to destroy the bridge. Dread has swept through German engineering units which had not even the remotest connection with the bridge, and this may be the reason for the unusual number of German engineer officers being taken prisoner.