COLLAPSE OF FORCES

Southland Times, Issue 25666, 8 May 1945, Page 5

COLLAPSE OF FORCES

Sacrifices Ahead Of Germans

(Rec. 2.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 7. In his statement to the German people, the Foreign Minister, von Krosigk, said: — “The Government, which has a feeling of responsibility for the future of the nation, was compelled to act on the collapse of all physical and material forces add to demand from the enemy the cessation of hostilities. Out sympathy first goes out to our soldiers. No one must have any doubt that heavy sacrifices will be demanded from us in all spheres of life. We must take them upon us and stand loyally to our obligations. On the other hand we must not despair. We must keep one thing in mind —unity. We shall need unity. It is the foundation of our people. We must acknowledge the supreme law of right from an inner conviction.” It was announced from Prague that the German Commander in Czechoslovakia refused to accept Doenitz’s surrender. The Germans in Bohemia, he said, would continue to fight until they received a free passage from the country.

It is reported that General Eisenhower did not attend the signing of the surrender, but immediately afterwards received the German representatives. He asked them if they fully understood the terms and was assured that they did. General Eisenhower preserved a stern manner throughout. Allied Countries Demand Services (Rec. 9 p.m.) ’ SAN FRANCISCO, May 7. Belgium, Holland, Greece, Yugoslavia and Luxembourg have joined Russia and France seeking the services of German and Italian war prisoners as part of reparations, reports the United Press. The western Allies hold more than 3,500,000 German prisoners. The Russians are believed to hold a similar number. The Geneva Convention obliges the repatriation of prisoners within a fixed period after the war, but Russia did not sign the convention. Hence she is able to hold prisoners indefinitely. This is one explanation why many Germans are preferring to surrender .to the western Allies. The matter is one for the peace conference, not for UNCIO.