HITLER SPEECH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 3

HITLER SPEECH

BRITISH COMMENT

Viewed By Press As For Home

Consumption

United Press Association—Copyright Rec. noon. LONDON, October 1

Hitler's speech is fully reported in the English national papers. It is regarded as being chiefly for home consumption in Germany and to bolster up morale. It is interesting to observe that while Hitler was heavily sarcastic at the expense of the British and Mr. Churchill, he made only two or three references to President Roosevelt and the Americans, mentioning 13.000,000 unemployed, but avoiding to comment on America's war potential. Thus, while playing up British setbacks, he avoided and played down America's war role.

The Daily Express asks: "Did Hitler write the speech?" The paper comments that it was different from any of his previous big speeches. "It was slick and more flippant, less loaded with home-made history, and ranting. It did not sound much like Hitler." The Express suggests that the speech might have been written by one of Goebbel's young men.

The Daily Telegrapn says that Hitler has the embarrassing task of living down last year's reckless optimism, and has resorted to the old trick of confusing his hearers by attributing to his opponents action of which he himself was guilty. "Compared with the tone and substance of his utterances last year, it marks a retreat from former overweening confidence, which the United Nations may view with moderate encouragement," the paper states. Points for Serious Consideration. ! The Manchester Guardian expresses the view that the speech should be seriously considered. "Economically the claims Hitler makes should be taken seriously. They would mean that the German home front would be greatly strengthened and the productive capacity intensified for the future and the long war he foresees. There is evidence .-that the existence of a food and industrial front immediately behind the lines in Russia is not simply imaginary, though some claims that it is already productive are not true."

An interesting, and perhaps significant section of the speech was the statement that "Every saboteur of this people's community will be ruthlessly destroyed. At a time when the flower of our manhood stand at the front and have pledged their lives there is no room for criminals and good-for-nothings who harm the nation. Whoever takes to himself what is meant for the troops can expect no mercy. No German woman should never have to go home from work at night in the fear of being attacked. We shall exterminate these elements. The troops cannot be expected to sacrifice their lives without the assurance that their dependents at home will be protected."