HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 263, 7 November 1939, Page 7

HIGHLIGHTS from THE CABLES

GERMAN FREEDOM RADIO STATION

WHILE it is dangerous to pin too much hope on tlio activities of subversive elements within the borders of Germany. there is 110 doubt that the anti-Xazi forces arc working hard, despite 1 lie most rigorous attempts at suppression. To-day's cable reporting tlie escape of the (ierman Freedom Radio Station from the Gestapo bloodhoundwill be welcomed by everyone who hopes for the rebirth of the German democraticState. This station has been active fo>the past two years or so. and since the outbreak of the war has been working overtime. Recently it announced that it. had called together a conference of all anti-Xazi sympathisers in South Germany, and that the conference had adopted a programme under the slogan. '"Fighters For The Free Germany."

First point was tl.at ITitier must be overthrown. A provisional Government

ENIGMA OF SOVIET PREMIER'S SPEECH

ORITAIN, France. America and even Germany are arraigned in the speech by M. Motoloff, Soviet Premier and Foreign Minister, for continuing the war in the world to-day, while the Soviet may lie likened to the dove of peace that flutters aloft but cannot find a place to land. Tt would lie difficult to reAlI a more baffling pronouncement than this speech on the anniversary of the "Red"' revolution, concurrent with which was issued a Communist manifesto equally bereft of any definite line of policy save that of "proletarian internationalism/'

AMAZING FRENCH AIR FEAT

TACKLING odds that w,ould at first seem suicidal, nine French 'planes won an outstanding victory over 27 enemy machines. One-third of the Nazi "planes were claimed as victims by the French, and at least seven of these are known to have landed behind our lines. Exploits such as this are calculated to inspire the Allied flyers, and they cannot fail to be disconcerting, if nothing worse, to Marshal Goering's airmen. Very little has been heard lately about the overwhelming superiority of the Nazi air force, and while it would be dangerous to discount what is undoubtedlv a

STRUGGLE FOR MASTERY AT SEA.

pv FT AILS of the sinking of Allied and neutral ships and the successful conveyance of 100.000 tons of foodstuffs in four days to a British port give cause for deep satisfaction that the British and French Navies are Ueing very successful in their combined efforts to stifle the menace of underwater enemy craft. It might lie premature to take for granted, however, that the U-boat has been completely swept Trom the seas. Desperate attempts are certain to be made for the sake of prestige, if nothing else, by the Nazis to show that their

will then be formed consisting- of workers and peasants. This Government will pledge itself to the re-establisliment vf Poland and Czechoslovakia, will make peace, and will then deal with disarmament. Private property will be respected and a planned economy introduced. After Hitler's downfall all political prisoners will be liberated, and freedom of the Press re-established. Xext the provisional Government will call a Xational Assembly, memliers of which must not; belong to any party which advocates dictatorship. Finally, the provisional Government will elect the President of the State, and elections will be held under the slogan. "Fight For Your Liberty." Probably it was some such proclamation as this, which would have enormous popular support within the Reich, that the cable to-day reports was jammed by the authorities.

While most other nations are accused as warmongers—even Germany is fighting for world hegemony, though the pact with Russia will enable the Soviet to keep out of war —the annexation of Fast Poland by thousands of troops was seeminjrly not a conquest, only "one of the greatest successes of t lie Soviet Union's foreign policy." Something 'similar may be contemplated regarding Baltic States, but M. Molotoff lias given no hint as to what the intentions of the Soviet are in this direction. Policv relating to the Balkans is equally obscure, yet the speech may be hailed in several quarters as conciliatory and indicating a peace psychology.

powerful striking weapon, one cannot fail to draw comparisons between performance in this war and the forecasts that preceded it. As far as one ean judge, the British and French airmen are at least a match for their foes, and as their numbers increase with the arrival of men trained in Canada, so will their superiority. ?Co doubt the German Press and radio will deny the Allied claims in the present case, but the fact remains that of the nine successes claimed seven were confirmed by the fact that the machines came to their final rest on French soil.

submarines are still at work, and to satisfy the urgent necessity for home consumption more audacious enterprises mav in the near future be undertaken.

The loss to Britain's mercantile marine is very slight, and a notable factor is the almost entire absence of air attack on British vessels. The rapidity with which ships of the Merchant Xavy have been fitted with guns is no doubt proving a material factor in driving off U-boats, but the tardiness of German activity, in view of the lavash claims of 'plane strength, is a matter for conjecture.