AXIS PACT ANNIVERSARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 December 1943, Page 4

AXIS PACT ANNIVERSARY

GERMAN-JAP. CLAIMS

RIBBENTROP’S PEP TALK

LONDON, Dec. 11. The Berlin radio announced that the second anniversary of the signing of the Military Pact between Germany, Italy and Japan was marked at Berlin by a ceremony which was attended by the Japanese Ambassador, Admiral Oshima; the Republican Fascist Ambassador, Signor Anfuso, and the German Minister of State, Herr Meissner. General Tojo, Japanese Prime Ministre, exchanged cablegrams with Hitler and Mussolini. In a speech, Mussolini pledged the determination of his Government to continue the struggle. M. Shigemitsu, Japanese Foreign Minister, broadcasting on the Tokio radio, said: “The war aims of Germany and Japan are the destruction lof the Anglo-American world hegemony, and the ushering in of a new leva of equitable and truly enduring peace.” Herr von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, made a . speech which was broadcast by the Berlin radio. He said: “However fluctuating battles may have been at some points in this gigantic struggle, and whatever partial successes the enemy has registered here and there, we to-day can still point to one undeniable fact:— Both in Europe and in East Asia the Tripartite Powers stand completely unshaken in the positions which they gained. Japan has remained paramount since she took up arms against Britain and America. To-day she holds this commanding position more firmly than ever. Europe, too, remains firmly in the hands of Germany and her Allies. “Thus the Tripartite Powers everywhere have gained, in their first great onslaught, such strategic advantages that the enemy can never catch up with them. The Japanese in East Asia during the last year have increasingly consolidated their positions over a front many thousands of miles, and in the last few months they have inflicted annihilating and irreparable defeats on the British and the American naval forces. The German soldier, at the same time, has kept our enemies fax’ from Europe. The German Eastern Front will stand. The enemy will not succeed in breaking through. The strength of the Red Army will one day be exhausted. The Germans, after systematic strategic shortenings of their front, are now facing the Bolsheviks as an impenetrable wall of iron and steel. The Soviet forces, in repeated onslaughts, have failed to score major strategic success against us. They have suffered immense losses which bring the exhaustion of their human reserves evex - nearer.

“The main part of Italy is firmly in Axis hands, enabling the liberated II Duce to rebuild National Republican Italy, and to re-enter the war with all his forces at his disposal. Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, from the Spanish frontier to the Dodecanese Islands, the German postiion is strengthening daily. “HYSTERICAL BABBLING” “Oui’ enemies repeatedly have announced, with increasing noise, a great coming blow against Western Europe. If Europe’s west coast could be conquered by words, Germany’s enemies would long ago have reached the Rhine. The German High Command remains completely unmoved by their hysterical babbling, foi’ the Fuehrer has erected fortifications on the Atlantic coast which are unparalleled in the history of the world. “To get out of the blind alley into which theii' strategy has led them, our enemies have concentrated on a new type of warfare, which is typical of theii' mentality. It consists, on the one hand, in the cowardly bombing of civilians, and on the othei' hand, in the propagandist fireworks of an uninterrupted chain of conferences. All of this shows the enormous enemy nervousness regarding the military situation which confronts them. Boundless imperialism on the part of the enemy Powers becomes more visible at every conference. Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt are the real waxcriminals. They propose that East Asia shall be brought back undei’ British-American slavery and exploitation: and that Europe shall be divided, the Russians having the east of Europe; the British having the west of Europe; and America having France’s African possessions, and also European countries. One great enemy authority recently, stated that the role of France and Italy in Europe is finished, and that Britain must take charge of the west of Europe—that is, must annex west Europe. “One thing is certain. The new Axis Europe will be completely different from our enemies’ Europe. Never again will foreign Powers interfere with Europe or with East Asia. The enemy says that a general attack against the Axis will come shortly. Germany, Italy and Japan answer: ‘Let them come! We stand guard. We shall give them a hot reception!’ ”

“THAT MADMAN, HITLER!”

LONDON, Decembei’ 12

The Moscow radio, broadcasting to German women, declared: “The decisions taken at Teheran will be implemented soon. The overwhelming miPht of the United Nations will strike against Germany. Thousands upon thousands of you will become widows. Many more will never see your sons again—just because of that madman, Hitlpr. It is your duty to save youx- husbands and sons from that terrible slaughter—get rid of that maniac!”

The Moscow radio also broadcast a Lutheran Church service to Germany, in which the preachex- urged the Germans to start a holy wax' against Hitler. He said: “Hitler is sending to theii' death millions of oui 1 children, and causing the death of many more millions of German women and men. This is the evil power which is driving German:/ to hexdoom preventing her salvation. It is oui’ duty to fight this power for the salvation of the Fathex-land. The struggle against Hitler is a Holy war.”

GENERAL SMUTS’ ESTIMATE

NAIROBI, Dec. 11.

General Smuts, in an interview, said: “Americans are coming like an avalanche. I do not share the belief that the German people will soon collapse. They are going to fight hard. Nevertheless, I am supremely confident, for these reasons: (1) The U-boat is beaten. (2) The enormous effect on Germany of our terrific bombing. (3) Phenomenal Russian successes. (4) Re-opening of the Mediterranean. Our bombing is the most considerable contribution to victory. We . are now making it really a blow at the heart.”