BRITISH INSIDE BREMEN

Southland Times, Issue 25656, 26 April 1945, Page 5

BRITISH INSIDE BREMEN

Guns Reduce City To Rubble (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 25. The British are inside Bremen. They have crossed the city border, states the correspondent of the British United Press. He added that the enemy has posted guns at every suburban railway station and every crossroad. ’ British infantry, under cover of darkness, stalk the batteries then push on for 100 yards more. Fires are burning in many parts of the city. More than 400 guns, ringed in a half circle around Bremen, are smashing the suicide city into a nibble heap, states the correspondent of Reuter’s outside the city. Columns of black smoke floated high over the port in the afternoon as the air raid warnings sounded every quarter of an hour when six medium bombers systematically bombed pinpoint targets. There is no massed armada of heavy bombers; just these small numbers of planes in a regular attack. The garrison has not the guns, the men, or the determination to do more than delay the British. One division on the eastern outskirts over-ran fixed anti-aircraft defences. A pillbox at the entrance of a village suburb took as long to silence as the rest of the village put together. Tram rails have been ripped up. The garrison commander in the waterless city has bored 70-feet wells in the streets. Other frontline correspondents say that British troops .are approaching Hastedt, the last eastern suburb before the city. Scottish tanks and infantry are fighting a house-to-house battle. The Guards Armoured Division attacked Zeven from three sides, and cleared the southern half. There is a large area north of Zeven where British armoured units are roaming the countryside at will. The correspondent of the British United Press with the British 2nd Army says that the Germans are pulling out of the North Sea coast between Emden and Bremen. Polish troops are closing in oh Emden. The “Desert Rats” Eire widening their grip on Hamburg on the west bank of the Elbe, and are extending their hold on the waterway. Tank gunners continue to shell German ships.

GERMANS OFFER LEAVE ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. The German Government has offered leave to all Allied war prisoners in prison camps as the Allies advance. The British Government has replied, accepting the offer where British prisoners are involved. A Washington message says that the War Department has accepted the offer as far as Americans are concerned. A warning signed by Mr Churchill, President Truman and M. Stalin has been broadcast to Germany by all available means from London, Moscow and Washington about the treatment of Allied war prisoners, internees or deported citizens of the United nations in the battle zones, on the lines of communication, or in the rear areas. The warning was addressed to all commandants and guards, also members of the Gestapo. The signatories have declared that they would “hold all such persons, no less than the German High Command and competent German military and naval authorities, individually responsible for the safety and welfare of those in their charge.” Any person guilty of maltreating or allowing maltreatment would be ruthlessly pursued and brought to punishment. The signatories gave notice that “they will regard this responsibility binding in all circumstances and one which cannot be transferred to any other authorities and individuals whatsoever.” The Press Association says that about 143,000 British war prisoners were still in German hands a week ago. The United States War Department has estimated that 65,000 Americans are still in German hands.