The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-18
10000 Nozis Surrender
tcOntlnusd from pAss D

NNUUNlUWEM HUH E&MN ~ Americans to accept their surrender Germans who didn't want Co sur- render Go the French Forces of the Interior. Now, for the first time, is told the authentic story ot a re. markahle footnote Co the history of Che war.
 Elster, formerly commander at NiaErltA was ordered on Aug. @ to tegroup all German troops aloue the spanish border end the Bay Of Blscay and take them 600 miles back Co the Reich. They included 5000 regular soldiers, e,O00 Luftwaffe per. sonnel and T,000 Marines, They had 600 stolen civilian automobiles, 300 trucks and 1000 horse drawn ve. hlcles.
 This force never fought Q real battle but for weeks tt was hArNsSed by the Maouls end the planes of the Q, s, Ninth Air Force. It met a patrol Of a Americans led by It, Samuel W, Magill, 2l, of AShtahula, O., and promptly surrendered,
 Mission
 The platoon had been sent out on an intelligence and raconnais. saIlee mission into enemy territory, On Sept, Q two MaQuls told Magill thete was Q German general farther south who wanted to talk terms.
 "The Maquis said tho German es- cape route almost was closed and that instead of going back to defend the French ports the Germans might Do willing to surrender" Ma gill told me.
 VI sent word to the Germans, hinting might be agreeable, The commander answered that he was willing if we would send two bat. talionS to the village of DesiHe for a token battle to make 1t look good,
 Hell, I didn't know of two bat. talions within Q million miles, so l used another angle, arranged c meeting and asked our air force for planes, I told the air force I would have Q smoke signal at certain crossroads and if I laid . red panel on the ground they should bomb and strNfe the German troops as Q convineer but if put down a white panel just to fly around look. Ing menaeing,
 Agreement
 Before the planes arrived I felt pretty optimistic 80 I placed the white panel and sent two French officers to talk to the Germans. The Germans got c look at all those planes and agreed right away to an Armstioe, Gen, Elster agreed te come to the village of ISsoudun with one of his staff officers for Q con. ference with Gen. Macon,
 After that didn't do much but the Germans agreed to surrender at the Loire If they could march there with their arms for protection against the Maquis who had been soaring them."
 On Sept, "a this correspondent drove with Felix Can De Walle, a Belgian, one of Magills fantastic aides" to German division head- quarters, lS0 miles into what had been enemy territory the day before to witness final arrangements for the surrender.
 In Q jeep bearing Q white flag and driven by Pfc Ralph Anderson of Lancaster, o, we raeved south through village after village, avoid. i"S Germans as much as possible, Finally we turned down e dusty road into . high.walled courtyard where German mechanics were working on vehicles. We drove past them to the chateau and climbed out in front of 0 German colonel,
 Staff officers
 German staff officers in shiny black boots and fancy multi-oolored uniforms draped with medals strolled about. German soldiers lounged around the eRmouflaged cars back of the chateau, chatting and cleaning guns,
 We inquired for It. Col, Jules K, French Jr, of Merryfield, Va, an American prisoner who had been ct ElsterS headquarters for two days while negotiations were in progress,
 The colonel took us to French who was Q little skeptieal of the value of q correspondent but assured him l would keep quiet.
 French said final arrangements almost had been completed for the Germans to march In three columns to the Loire for surrender,
 But things have been a little touehy around here" French said lowering his voice SO German off. eerS In the next room could not hear him, Last night the MaquiS went out and captured 900 of ElsterI men and the general nearly hit the roof when he heard about 1t. I had to 90 out today and talk the Maquis into giving tho Germans back, They finally agreed to return their gunS too when I convinced them they were breaking c truce"
 I spoke to one German soldier on tho lawn later. He spoke English perfectly. He said he used to be Q coffee salesman in San FTaneisco, He explained he was SurrenderinV because he realized six months ago the war was over for Germany.
 T would like to see the golden gate again." he said wiStfully.