Evening star., 1944-08-25
Paris
Continued From First Page.)

Dy an American correspondent IN
broadcast.
The correspondent, whose broad
cast was heard by Reuters News
Agency, said he was speaking from
the Hotel de Vile. His words came
over the FIJI radio in Paris.
From the Hotel de Vile, from
where I am speaking to you, I hear
the explosion of shells and the spat-
ter of machine guns of the regular
army and the machine guns of the
FIJI" said the reporter, who was
not identified Immediately.
Sherman Tanks in City.
The correspondent said Gen. lie
Clerc's first patrols-several Sher-
man tanks, two infantry sections
and a section of engineers-entered
the capital just before midnight,
passing through the Port d'Italie.
From the Port d'Italie to lie de
La Cite (the island in the Seine in
the center of the city which the
underground army originally had
seized as stronghold in its upris-
ing last Saturday, LIE Clerc's units
have had delirious welcome. Men,
women and children literally rushed
the tanks, shouting their JOY" the
reporter said.
This first Allied detachment
found Paris in full battle.
1T had to carry out a definite
mission: To occupy the prefecture
of police and the Hotel de Vile, and
| liquidate several German tanks
which were still moving about in the
area.
This mission they accomplished.
Last night a burst of bullets
swept the hall of the Hotel de Vile.
Four persons were killed, and since
then notwithstanding has hardly
ceased.
Navy Ministry Fired.
THE Germans set fire to the Navy
Ministry and the Hotel Crillon, and
the sky was ablaze in the direction
of Neuilly and Vincennes. 1t was
the last jerks of a beast receiving
mortal blow.
The Resistance Council held a
general meeting. One hundred yards
from there the FIT rushed a build
ing where the SIS were using up
their last cartridges.
The stronghold of La Cite, where
all personalities of the resistance
movement are, holds out we'll"
The Morocco radio said the bulk
OF German armor is leaving Paris" +"
and that the news of Gen. lie Clerc's
arrival went around the capital "ike
wildflre and the bells of Notre Dame
rang out"
The cathedral of Notre Dame is
the geographical center of Paris, on
the lie de La cite, and the Paris
City Hall is on the north bank of
the river opposite the island.
Heavy Fighting in Suburbs.
The German high command. in
its first mention of Paris in one
OF its communiques, told Of heavy
fighting in the suburbs which
it said had been reached in strength
by Allied armored and motorized
forces.
A supreme headquarters COM
munique early today said the entry
into the Paris outskirts by the Lc
Clerc forces was effected "after over.
coming considerable enemy opposi-
tion."
1t did not elaborate on the situ-
alton in the capital.
Orders for the French armored
troops to march in were issued
by the supreme command after
the Germans had repudiated an
agreement" with the FIJI to get
out of Paris and continued to fieht
underground forces which had
seized the city's principal buildings.
Finding themselves in a dangerous
position, the Patriots appealed to
the Allied military leaders for help.
Previously 1t was decided to let
the French I'd Division have the
honor Of entering the city, SO 1t.
Gen. Omar N. Bradley pulled It
out of the line and sent 1t inAto