INVASION THROUGH HOLLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1943, Page 5

INVASION THROUGH HOLLAND

GERMANS THREATEN DUTCH

(Rec. 1.40p.m.) LONDON, May 20.. Pointers to the German disquiet about an Allied invasion of West Europe were contained in a radio speech by Seyss Inquart, in which he warned the Dutch that they would suffer penalties for even the slightest disturbance during an attack through Holland, employing paratroops and Commandos, to rouse the population against the Germans. “We believe such unscrupulous action isn’t beyond our enemies, although no doubt such an operation would end with the complete sacrifice of all participating. 1 have seen to it that there should not be the slightest chance of events endangering our Eastern Front, for which reason I have taken precautionary measures. Those who must now return to the war prisoners’ camps can thank the Dutch emigres in London for that. Those who follow the illegal Government in London place themselves outside international law. There have been strikes and sabotage, but the majority of the Dutch remain within the law’, or will return to it very soon. I don’t want to mention the possibility that a situation, may arise' where armed forces must intervene with their heavy arms. When milk is deliberately poured awav, when cornfields are set on fire, or other sabotage is committeed, then this is the beginning of Communism. It isn’t a patriotic deed when farmers hoard corn, butter and vegetables instead of delivering thorn to the authorities for distribution. The Reich’s demands aren’t :>o great. They must be complied with in all circumstances.” “We must remember out enemies may attack Holland, whereupon some instructions may be given from London and some individuals may carry them out, drawing with them, ever larger groups from the population. A great misfortune will then happen, nor for the Germans, but, for those who have to face the German soldiers, who have the best arms in the world. I have ordered the confiscation of all radios to prevent this happening. 1 would much rather compete witii London -on the radio because 1 am convinced that our good cause will triumph in the end. even if it takes years. It goes without saying that the Dutch Nationalist Socialists are not affected by this order. "The work in Africa has captured the imagination of many because they think that the loss of Africa — which we Germans feel very acutely.—was a strategic defeat for Germany, but actually the Fuehrer forced the Anglo-Americans to concentrate on the other side of our Mediterranean ‘anti-tank ditch,’ instead of landing somewhere on the Continent early" last Spring, which was not a very pleasant time for us.” It is reported from Stockholm that Seyss Inquart has issued a decree prohibiting strikes and absenteeism.

TERRORISM IN SERBIA

(Recd. 1.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 20. Latest news from Jugoslavia reaching the exiled Government in London indicates a revival of partisan activities in Serbia and a corresponding increase in German violence, says “The Times’” diplomatic correspondent. The Germans at Belgrade recently nut up posters announcing the execution of 400 hostages for the murder of two German officers. The village of Dubats was burnt and many peasants killed. One hundred and fifty hostages were executed in retaliation for a skirmish in which guerrillas killed or captured a few Germans. There have been signs of closer Bulgarian-German co-opera-tion. The Bulgarians and Germans, at least once, combined to plunder and destroy villages. Reprisals on the basis of fifteen Serb peasants for one Bulgar have been reported. The Serbs accuse the Bulgars of mutilating bodies of Germans killed by Chetniks, and affixing a Chetnik slogan to them, with the object of inciting Germans to furious reprisals. The Berlin radio says that units of the Italian and German armies in the last lew days began another campaign against the bands commanded bv General Mikhailovic in Bosnia.