RACE ACROSS GERMANY

Southland Times, Issue 25642, 9 April 1945, Page 5

RACE ACROSS GERMANY

FLYING COLUMNS OF TANKS PURSUIT OF GERMANS IN FULL SWING (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. British tanks in the north and American tanks in the centre are staging a dramatic race across Germany for Berlin. The correspondent of the British United Press at Field-Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery’s headquarters puts the British tanks at under 140 miles from Berlin, while the German radio reports an American armoured column has reached Eisleben, 100 miles south-west of Berlin. Frontline correspondents say that the pursuit of the routed Germans back to the Elbe is in full swing. Hanover has been bypassed and armoured spearheads are reported less than 12 miles from Bremen.

Reports reaching Field-Marshal Montgomery’s headquarters indicate that the Germans may abandon both Bremen and Hanover, and try to defend the central Germain plain. The German News Agency’s commentator, Sertorius, describing FieldMarshal Montgomery’s latest moves as dangerous, says that the British objectives are obviously the Kiel Canal and the vital German naval bases. Luxembourg radio states that a fresh security blackout has been imposed on the latest advances on the Bremen and Hanover front, where the British 2nd Army is running riot. More than 120,000 of Field-Marshal Montgomery’s men with 1000 tanks and tens of thousands of other vehicles, are entering the last lap of the race and are less than 140 miles from Berlin, cables the correspondent of the British United Press. There are no signs of organized and effective resistance this side of Berlin. The Germans have no chance of retrieving their position from the debacle. There is no organized control over the Wehrmacht’s cut-off divisions, which is all that is left in this area after Field-Marshal Montgomery’s drive deep into the vitals of northwestern Germany. Allied troops, in the last seven days, have over-run numbers of the finest defence positions, and the Germany Army no longer is capable of maintaining a cohesive front. “The Allies are entering the final mopping-up stage,” said a Ist Army staff officer. He added that the only coherent German fighting force on the Western Font was the Army group which was hopelessly trapped in the Ruhr pocket. 20,000 PRISONERS The correspondent of Reuter’s with the 12th Army Group reports that the United States 9th Army, which is handling the Germans trapped in the Ruhr pocket yesterday took 20,000 prisoners, which is estimated to be onequarter of the encircled enemy. Lieutenant-General G. S. Patton’s armour and infantry today smashed heavy counter-attacks north-west of Muhlhausen, knocking out 40 German tanks, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of America with the 3rd Army. American tanks advanced three miles to Schieusingen, 28 miles south of Gotha. The 3rd Army, so far, has captured 10,000 prisoners and 6000 square miles of Germany. They are 213 miles inside the Reich at the deepest penetration. In Holland, the Canadians

have reached Swolle and cut off all the German troops in western Holland. The Germans still have four completed divisions and elements of a fifth in Holland. There are also garrison troops. The German strength in Holland is estimated to be 100,000 men.

Canadian armoured forces are swarming over the Dutch countryside north of the Twente canal in the V. bomb area, reports Reuter’s correspondent. They have developed a twin thrust towards the Zuider Zee through Zwolle and Deventer. The northern column has cleared Gransdergen and has pushed on west to Hankate. The Canadians on their left have crossed the Schipbeek canal, which runs through Deventer. The Germans have fallen back inside Deventer, where they • are apparently preparing to make a determined stand. Heavy fighting is raging inside Zuften for the fourth day. There is no sign that the enemy garrison is collapsing.

GOLD RESERVE FOUND IN SALT MINE

(Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 7. What is believed to be the entire gold reserve, of the Reichsbank and priceless art treasures recently removed from Berlin have been captured by troops of the American 3rd Army who were probing into the depths of a salt mine at Miekers, south of Mulhausen. It is estimated that 100 tons of gold bullion—probably all Germany possesses—were stored in a vault 2100 feet below the ground inside the mine. It is estimated that the value of the paper currency also discovered is £750,000,000 worth of marks, £500,000,000 worth of United States dollars, 100,000,000 French francs, 110,000 English £s and 4,000,000 Norwegian crowns. Smaller amounts of other currencies were also found. .. The gold reserve was discovered through a woman having a baby, states Reuter’s correspondent with the 3rd Army. Two other women, apparently midwives, who were being assisted by two American military policemen, disclosed the gold’s whereabouts to the Allied authorities. Dozens of Allied tanks how guard the treasure. LIBERATED~PRISONERS IN LEAVE CAMPS (Rec. 8 pin.) LONDON, April 7. Seven hundred British and American soldiers—the first to be evacuated by air from Germany after being liberated by their comrades from prison camps—are now in army leave camps near a French channel port, says a correspondent at Supreme Headquarters. There they will remain until they are fit for the remainder of the journey home. They are happy, but haggard, states the correspondent. Months of privation have left marks on these men, five per cent, of whom arrived too sick and worn to undertake further travel. In Germany they have been subsisting on half a bowl of watery soup a day and one loaf of bread for six men. Some had lost nearly seven stone.