DANISH ISLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25849, 21 May 1945, Page 5

DANISH ISLAND

RUSSIAN'INTENTION STATED NOT THERE AS OCCUPIERS I (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. The Danish Foreign Minister, Mr Moeller, in a statement on the position on Bornholm, said that the Russians’ only intention was to drive the Germans from the island, says Reuter’s Copenhagen correspondent. A delegation of Cabinet Ministers to-day left for Bornholm to confer with Colonel Strepkov, the Russian commander on the island. The newspaper Politikens Bornholmer yesterday published an interview with Colonel Strepkov, in which the commander stated that the Russians did not come to Bornholm as occupiers. There were 3500 Russians there at present, but no more were expected. Colonel Strepkov added that Russian action against Bornholm was solely the result of the decision by the German commander, von Camptz, to fight on. Von Camptz had since been shot by the Russians for refusing to obey the capitulation conditions. Mr Moeller arrived at Bornholm by air and received a warm reception from the inhabitants and the Russian military authorities. Colonel Strepkov told Mr Moeller: "We have come to Bornholm exclusively to remove all Germans. When that is completed we hope to continue the friendly relations with your island commission. I can assure you that when that time arrives Denmark will again be a free and independent country.” Mr Moeller thanked the Russians foi freeing “part of our country.” and expressed the hope that the good relations always existing between _ Russia and Denmark would continue in the future.