MOUNTING ALARM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 248, 1 August 1941, Page 6

MOUNTING ALARM

DESPONDENCY IN GERMANY, THE WAR.AT A CRUCIAL STAGE TORMENTED BY R.A.F. RAIDS, (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Ree. 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 31. •Vividly describing the mounting alarm and despondency in Germany, “Tire Times” correspondent on the German frontier declares that widespread latent opposition to the Hitler regime has become more articulate, “snowballing” throughout the Reich. The German High Command is doing its utmost to capitalise the" breakthrough at Smolensk, but a multitude of signs suggest that the war has reached a crucial stage. The Germans are frankly admitting the urgent need for a decisive result within a few days. An endless succession of hospital trains from the east, interminable newspaper columns of death notices, and the calling up of further recruits for the Army yesterday, markedly increased the Germans’ nervousness and restlessness.

The British and American aid for Russia has increased the disquietude. The Wounded relate that the German “blitz” failed because the Russians are equally mechanised and fearless and fanatical. Murderous guerilla activity on a mass scale defied counter-action

An immediate, sweeping military triumph, leading to terrible results, can alone silence the open denunciation of the invasion of Russia.

At .present, the break-through .at Smolensk and the appalling Russian losses are inadequate to dispel the misgivings of the population of s the Reich, continuously tormented by raids by the Royal'Air Force. The “Volkischer Beobach ter’’.betrays a serious change of public sentiment from the serene confidence that existed in June. The newspaper, with queer logic, declares: “The Red Army s stubborn desperate resistance is striking proof that the Soviet constitutes a mortal danger to Germany and Europe, which is why we must not be allowed to be impressed hv the number oi wounded or.the frequency or death notices, but must consider the enormous number of soldiers battling. Ihe Russians’ losses are irremediable because (Germany aims at the destruction oi the Soviet forces. The German losses are relatively insignificant because once the conqiiest of Russia is complete Germany will be the sole' military power in Europe. Even infeeblement will be unimportant for the future of Europe. The correspondent adds that everyone realises that the German Army is fac’ino- the most supreme test m its history. The listlessness of the public has Vanished in the face of the evident national peril. Hourly news is ravenously devoured, hut is non-com-mittal. The High Command merely increases the uneasiness. The'correspondent mentions a report that a German tank division has broken through at Smolensk but the Russians are confident they will annihilate the division long .before it reaches the outskirts of Moscow. The Wilhelmstrasse is reported to lie expecting the fall of Leningrad very shortly, but It refuses precise details. The correspondent says that the Germans undeniably disregard the cost .or attempting a “blitz” rush against Leningrad. * -r A GERMAN GGMMuNfGUE. (Ree. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. A (German communique issued to-day says : “German forces penetrated deeply into the lines of the retreating enemy in the Ukraine. The encirclement of the enemy east of Smolensk has been drawn closer. Units in Esthonia thrust the enemy back.”