"Thank you, thank you", the Bengalis yelled at him.
Naagra and Kler fought their way into Dacca from the north after crossing the Pakistani border on the morning of December 4 with slightly more than two brigades.
They covered 160 miles-partly by bullock drawn cart and foot fighting at every town.
"We were relying on you to get us home for Christmas", a reporter-told Naagra at the airport. “Well, we have done it", the General replied.
Naagra said that the road into Dacca down which he came was littered with the bodies of Pakistani soldiers. “It was pathetic", he said, “we could not bury them. We did not have time."
"We were cheered all the way", Naagra continued. “At Mymensingh, all my patches and badges were snatched off by the crowds."
"I hope everything is peaceful and quiet", Jacob said. “We have given our guarantee that the soldiers and West Pakistanis will be protected, and we mean to keep it."
About eight Bengalis rushed through the airport gate into the runway to greet Jacob. “May I shake your hand", they asked one after another. They have killed us like rats for nine months", one told Jacob, referring to the Pakistani army.
Turning to a reporter, the Bengali asked: “What country are you from?” “American", the reporter replied,
Not happy with America
The Bengali spat: “We are not happy with America", he said, refusing to shake hands.
Bengalis bitterly resent President Nixon's support for the central Pakistan Government throughout the civil war that led to the Indian-Pakistani war here.
Now (he Bangladesh (Bengal Nation) that they have been hoping for is born. One of Gen. Niagara’s aides carried a Bangladesh flag as the General stood at the airport.
Other Bangladesh flags are being waved in the streets by civilians who stop every passing car to shake hands and shout their happy slogans.
Along the sides of the streets, for the most part ignored by the crowds, soldiers and police of the defeated Pakistani Government file by-still carrying their weaponsbut heading for the collection points where they are to be disarmed.
The surrender and Indian army arrival came suddenly, after some bleak earlymorning hours in which it appeared that plans to surrender had been snagged in West Pakistan and that heavy fighting, plus waves of new air strikes, would cause serious damage and many deaths in Dacca.
