LINK-UP MAY BE NEAR

Southland Times, Issue 25669, 11 May 1945, Page 5

LINK-UP MAY BE NEAR

Allied Forces In Czechoslovakia (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. The final junction of American and Russian forces in Czechoslovakia is expected soon. There is a fairly wide corridor between the two forces, but the American 3rd Army line is now stationary, and tlie Russians are moving rapidly forward to meet their American allies. Prague has been liberated by the Russians. A French report states that Dunkirk, La Rochelle and Lorient have been liberated. Many have been killed in clashes at Oslo last night between Germans and Norwegian Patriots, says the Oslo correspondent of Reuters. Thousands of people celebrating the peace had to run for their lives when hand grenades were thrown and shots fired. Firing and heavy detonations continued for some hours. The Copenhagen correspondent of the British United Press reports that British troops are helping to mop up quislings in Copenhagen. The last German communique broadcast over the Flensburg radio tonight stated: “On the order of Grand Admiral Doenitz all weapons are silent. We have achieved great victories but also surrendered to heavy defeats. We have succumbed with honour.” The announcer—his voice almost breaking down—read the communique from the headquarters of Admiral Doenitz. Liberated Denmark returned to the democratic way of State life on Wednesday when the King reopened Parliament, says a Copenhagen correspondent. From early in the morning thousands of Danes lined the route from the King’s palace to Parliament Buildings at Christansborg while members and other high dignitaries assembled in the palace church near Parliament Buildings to, attend the service. The Stockholm 'correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says a Royal Navy squadron, consisting of the cruisers Birmingham and Dido and four torpedo boats have arrived in Danish waters. RUSSIAN ENTRY INTO PRAGUE Red Army Acclaimed By Czechs (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. Prague is a city of chaos, says the correspondent of the Associated Press of America in a dispatch lodged yesterday. The Russians paraded through the shattered streets, and were wildly acclaimed by thousands of exultant men and women, who divided their energies between pelting jeeps and cars with flowers and removing the barricades. There are so many dead and wounded in the city that they have not yet been counted. Czech Patriots say that ■ their three days’ battle against the Germans cost the lives of at least 5000 of their countrymen. The city erupted in a mad outburst of relief and joy when the first reconnaissance elements of the Red Army raced in from the north-west after an overnight dash of 35 miles. The broken German Army is fleeing from the Russians to the west in a 56-mile-long column from Prague to the American lines. Among the Germans are members of the SS whom the Czechs accuse of slaughtering thousands of unarmed Czech men and boys and herding women and children before tanks to protect them against the Patriots’ fire. There were hundreds of Germans in the fields, sleeping off their last drunken debauch. Sullen columns on the roads include many women.