Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-05

! STAR, Washington, DC.
Jay, MAY S, I9H5.
Demobi|izing Of Nazis
Slowed by Danger Of
Partisan Reprisa|s
By the Associated Press.
FIFTEENTH ARMY GROUP
4 HEADQUARTERS IN ITALY,
May 5.-Negotiation of details
> for disarming and demobilizing
surrendered German troops in
North Italy and Western Austria
hung up temporarily yesterday
on the question of protecting
! them from Partisan reprisals.
The chief of a flve-man German
delegation, Gen. Friodolin Won Sem
ger und Etterlin, asked: IF the
troops are to be disarmed, what
will be their position in the face
of the Italian Partisans?" He fore
cast bloodshed If the Partisans
sought to collect the weapons.
Gen. Alfred M. Gruenther, Gen.
; Clark's chief of staff, replied that
Gen. Clark was seeking "a speedy
solution" Of the Partisan problem
; and then suggested that the meet
ing be adjourned for a while.
Later Gen. Clark in broad
cast ordered Italian patriots to
cease attacking surrendered German
forces by this behavior you de-
tract from the value of your con-
tribution to victory he said.
Nazis Warned.
Gen. Gruenther warned that the
Nazi commanders would be held re-
Sponsible for carrying out the sur
render effected Wednesday and he
said Allied air power was ready
to bomb at moments notice If
any unusual troop movements were
observed.
The first meeting of its kind in
this war between German and AL
lied generals was carried out &C
cording to military ritual in pre-
fabricated cottage at Gen. Clark's
headquarters in grove on the bank
of river.
The Germans explained that their
commander in chief for the south
west, Col. Gen. Heinrich Won Wet
inghoff -Schell, did not personally
mead the delegation because it was
considered that he would be more
useful at German headquarters.
! At 1875 am, Gen. Won Senger,
commander of the 14th Panzer
Group, strobe in to see Gen. Clark.
Standing with Gen. Clark at the
far end of the room under pho
tograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt
and the British and American flags
were 1t. Gen. Lucien K. Truscott,
commander of the United States 5th
Armp; 1t. Gen. Sir Richard L. Nc
Creepy, commander of the British
9th Army; and Brig. Gen. Benjamin
w. Chidlaw, commander of the
United States 18th Air Force.
Gen. Won Senger. wearing riding
brooches and leather leggings, clicked
his heels, saluted and bowed slightly.
Addresses Clark.
Gen. Clark, as the representative
of the German commander in chief
for the southwest l report to you,
as commander of the 18th Army
Group, for your orders for the sur
rendered German land forces" he
said, speaking in English with a
thick accent.
/ Il assume you come with complete
authority to implement the uncon-
ditional surrender terms which were
signed by your representatives at
Allied force headquarters" asked
Gen. Clark.
That is correct" said the Ger
man general, who in 1910 headed the
German delegation at meetings of
the French Armistice Commission.
Here are my written instructions
to cary into effect the surrender
conditions" said Gen. Clark. Gen.
Gruenther. my chief of staff. now
will conduct conference for men,
, bers of my staff and yours to cover
details of the plan. Is that clear?"
That is clear replied Gen. Won
Senger.
He clicked his heels, turned and
strobe toward the door, hesitating
moment as Gen. Clark's black span
lei got in his way. The conference
proper followed in another cottage,
AS soon as Gen. Gruenther opened
the conference and outlined the
German responsibility for disarming
their men, Gen. Won Senger brought
up the partisan question which led
to adjournment.
! Gen. Won Senger was the only
German who spoke at the brief ses-
sion.
While the meeting was going on,
Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander,
Allied commander in chief in the
Mediterranean theater, received at
Rome congratulations from Gen.
Eisenhower, under whom he served
in North Africa and Sicily.
Meanwhile, a few instances Of
shooting still were reported in the
surrendered area of Italy. This was
attributed to difficulty in communi-
eating to all the German troops in
! the area.
About 100000 Germans are now
reported to have, surrendered in
Northern Italy and the remainder
of nearly 100000 men who capitu-
lated are said to include mostly
noncombatant personnel.
corone M,,rdor Trial