Evening star., 1944-06-27
BY DON WHITEHEAD.

ASSOCIATED freSS war Correspondent.
WITH AMERICAN TROOPS IN
CHERBOURG, June 27.-We drove
into Cherbourg yesterday over
roundabout roads as shells were
smashing into the city and as our
artillery and tanks were battering
at machine-gun nests and isolated
pockets of resistance.
Doughboys still were working to
clean out maze of tunnels and
interlocking chambers in Fort du
Roule, which was one of the last
points to be subdued.
AS We walked through the streets
OF Cherbourg doughboys moved up
to close In on the pillboxes which
still were firing from the beach.
Tanks edged up to corner buildings
at the waterfront and guns ham,
mered away. Machine guns ratified
and there was a heavy crump of
enemy shells landing nearby.
In wine shop Sergt. Harold
Shortsleeve, Rutland, VT, had his
heavy machine gun squad cleaning
their weapons before moving up to
the part In the action against the
pillboxes still blasting away at our
troops.
Cases Of Liquor Abandoned.
Were waiting for artillery and
mortars to get to work and then
we'll 60 in to clear up the pillboxes, :"
he said with a grin.
In the Hotel Atlantique were cases
OF wine, cognac and champagne left
behind by the Germans when they
fled the city.
There the shelves were filled with
fine sauternes, burgundys and
liquors. The Germans had requisi-
toned the hotel for labor troops of
the TODT organization. They had
lived in comfort in the 5OO-room
hostelry.
Pvt. Michael Pasternak, Peabody
N. j., had found a storeroom of fine
champagne and he uncorked bottle
and offered us a drink. German
stores were scattered throughout
tne TamDllng nOJel.
Then the door opened and a little
Frenchman with q white mustache
beckoned to us. We entered his
living quarters and he almost burst
into tears. His eyes were wet with
emotion. He could hardly talk.
Brings Out Bottle Of Scotch.
II been waiting for you for four
years" he said wiping his eyes
You are the first Americans I have
seen"
Then he told us TO wait. He went
out OF the room. A few minutes
later he came back with bottle of
cognac and opened it.
please take drink" he said. and
started to pour liquor into some
glasses. Suddenly he stopped and
said, Wait, I have something l
have been saving for you. 1 had
forgotten"
Then he came back with bottle
of Scotch
-Four years ago" he said, "the
English were evacuating France
through this port. In town a maj
gave me this bottle and said, Wen
be back in Ave years but l never
thought I'd live to see this day"
He uncorked the bottle and slowly
poured a drink for us. Then he
poured one for himself
Il don't drink ordinarily-butt this
is special occasion"
Germans Eager to Surrender.
He raised the glass, looked at each
OF us with his tear-dimmed blue
eyes
"Vive la France! Vive L'Amerique
for bringing us liberty
We raised our glasses and drank
to France and to our own United
States. 1t was strange place to
be drinking toasts with shells whis-
tling across and guns cracking
nearby. And yet 1t was a solemn
occasion.
Outside our troops were battering
an enemy pillbox just short dis
tance behind the hotel We went
upstairs to look out window at
the fight. Suddenly the Germans
put up a white flag and a dozen
OF them came out of the pillbox
with their hands in the air.
We were watching this little
drama when some one touched me
on the shoulder. I turned and
there were Ave Germans standing