The Wilmington morning star., 1945-05-07
BITTER FIGHTING
RACES IN PRAGUE
CONTINUED from Page 0ne)


al least 1o8 miles away in Mo-
ravia.
Meanwhile, the partsian-held ra-
do station in Prague failed to re-
turn TO the air after its broad
cast, possibly indicating that bat
tie was in progress for possession
Of the station or that it had been
lost.
Previously, the German-control-
led station in Prague had asserted
that German tiger tanks, batte-lng
through partisan street barbados,
were shooting down patriots in
street fighting and claimed to have
largely smashed the uprising to
free the Czechoslovak capital.
The Germans, in later broad
cast which did not mention Rus
sian reinforcement of the Czechs,
threatened to employ "all weapons
of modern warfare" against the
patriots if necessary to quell the
uprising, contended that "all inn
portant military positions in
Prague are in German hands," and
warned the partisans that 1.-The in
surrection in Prague renders 1t
impossible for us to avoid bringing
war to Prague, which had been
declared hospital town by the
German command"
Advance units of Gen. Patton's
American Third Army were known
to be pushing rapidly toward
Prague from captured Pilsen.
The Germans admitted in their
earlier broadcast that patriot
fighters held two radio stations
and were fighting bitterly to con-
solidate their hold on large areas
OF the city's cobble-stoned central
streets, while waiting for relief
from the American forces.
The German-controlled station in
the capital claimed at 10 p. m.
Nondon time) that thanks to a
determined stand of our troops the
situation in Prague already is
calmer," but the broadcast indi.
Gated the Germans, despite the
TACT that tanks were pouring into
the city, were up against stiff pa
trlot opposition.
AT the same time, the Moscow
radio said that uprisings were tax.
ing place in many Czechoslovak
towns in German-occupied Bohe.
mia, where Moscow said the situa-
ton was extremely tense"
Moscow claimed that many
prominent Nazis and their families
had fled to Prague and the sur.
rounding area to escape capture
land they now are trying to ap-
pear inconspicuous citizens"
The situation in Prague and
throughout western Czechoslovakia
was obscure. Late free Czechoslo-
vakia broadcasts indicated that
earlier statements that the Ger
mans had ceased resistance and
that negotiations were in progress
for the surrender of all German
forces in Czechoslovakia were pre-
mature.
Fifteen minutes after announc-
ing that the Prague revolt had
been largely crushed, the German
controlled Prague radio said in a
Czech-language broadcast that ne
gotiations for new Czech admin
1stration in Bohemia and Moravia
ARE going on at present."
There was no indication whether
this meant that the Germans were
dealing with the partisans or that
a new administration would in
volve leaders friendly to the Ger
mans.
Czechoslovak sources in London
in radio contact with the freedom
1lghters-reported that German
tanks, which had smashed into the
city from all directions. were
charging through the streets in a
desperate effort to quash the up
rising.
The patriot national council in
Prague broadcast message to
president Eduard Benes and the
Czechoslovak government in Ko-
sice that 1--WE shall continue to
light until final liberation"
-V