STATE OF SEIGE

Evening Star, Issue 25171, 10 May 1944, Page 3

STATE OF SEIGE

GERMANY'S POSITION

FRANK ADMISSION BY DIETMAR

{Rec. 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. Germany is undoubtedly now in a state of siege, said the German High Command radio spokesman, Lieutenantgeneral Dietmar. He added that there was tension among Europe's defenders, but no anxiety. The coming events would require greater, forces on both sides than had ever before been engaged in military operations. " We are as much in the dark about what we must face as is tha enemy about what he must face," said Lieutenant-general Dietmar. " It is certain that we face action without example in history and a number of unknown factors much larger than in any action yet undertaken. " He dascribed the Allied non-stop bombing as pre-invasion softening, and said that the Allies' invasion plans were completed. Constant vigilance was required as the date of invasion was unknown, but it was obvious tha Allies could not hold up operations too long because of the extreme tension within their own countries which the invasion prospects created. General Dietmar admitted that many German dugouts and batteries had been under a hail of Allied heavy bombings, but- he claimed that the German soldier's confidence had risen as a result. He predicted that a British, American, and Russian onslaught would l ba synchronised, but he said that the Germans would face this " extreme v contingency " with sang-froid.