TERRORIST RAIDING

Grey River Argus, 7 December 1940, Page 5

TERRORIST RAIDING

On English Cities NAZIS ENRAGED AT SWISS VERDICT [British Official Wireless] (Received December 6, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, December 5. What is regarded in London as significant evidence that the Germans are not so satisfied with the effects of their night raids on the British provincial cities as their propaganda suggests, is the fury with which Doctor Goebbels’ machine has greeted objective reports on these raids in the Swiss papers, and particularly against those from the London correspondent of the “Neue Zurcher Zeitung.” “I must affirm,” wrote the correspondent, after a visit to Coventry, in the course of which, he says, he was allowed to go where he liked and to see everything, “that, as in the case of London, the German attack on Coventry was aimed, not so much at military objectives such as factories, but far more at terrorisation. The centre of the town, which has been partly levelled to ‘the ground, contained practically no factories, but only shops and dwellings. Coventry’s productive capacity was more interfered with by the interruption, of its water and other services, which .is temporary, and is now largely regained, than by direct damage to its factories.”

Of Birmingham the correspondent, after also visiting the city, said: “In relation to the large number of factories in the enormous, industrial region around Birmingham, these industrial objectives which have been demolished or damaged represent only a modest proportion.” Of Bristol, the correspondent said: “The damage here seems to be even more limited.” He concludes: “Why the Luftwaffe adopted, once more, civilian terror; isation tactics, after they had so completely failed at London, is inexplicable. The result in Coventry, too, as I convinced myself in talks with the people of every class, has only deepened a bitter determination to go on with the war.”

The controlled Nazi press bitterly attacks these observations. “In the pay of England” and “Switzerland in Churchill’s service” are typical headlines.

“The croaking of these frogs becomes unbearable,” writes the “Boersen Zeitung.” “This bribed correspondent has committed more than the crime of stupidity,” says the “Volkischer Beobachter.” It adds dark insinuations of what the Nazis will do to revenge themselves on a free press which dares still to exist within reach of German power. A note struck by the “Frankfurter Zeitung” is a curious illustration of how easily blatant boastfulness and bullying typical of the Nazi in ascendance will switch back to the whining of an aggrieved victim, which is characteristic of the technique of the Nazi in difficulty. Across its front page this paper writes: “A nation of eighty millions, fighting for its bare existence, finds itself attacked insulted, and slandered by newspapers lof a tiny State whose Government claims to be neutral.- The nature of this report is manifest infamy for the correspondent that wrote it, the newspaper that printed it, and the Swiss public that tolerates such things.” It is thought in London that such extravagance of attack can only serve to enhance an already high reputation for objectivity and veracity which the Swiss press have long enjoyed. LONDON SHELTERS FOR NEARLY 11 MILLIONS' [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 6, 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. Miss Ellen Wilkinson, M.P. broaddasting, said: “There are places in London’s shelters for 1410 thousand people. Other shelters are being added each week.” The question of continuing football matches, greyhound meetings, and other open air sports meetings in Britain has been considered in the light of conditions now obtaining. The Government has decided that where an official spotter (employment of a look-out man) is in operation, play or racing may, as a general rule, be continued after an alert and until an alarm is given by the spotter.

Britain’s Coal Stocks GREATEST ON RECORD. (Received December 6, 11.40 p.m.). LONDON, December 5. The “Daily Telegraph” says:—Despite three months of intensive enemy air raids and also the German attacks on our coastal shipping, and our difficulties of transport as th e result of the black-out, Britain’s stocks of coal are 30 per cent., or nine million tons, higher than those at the same time last year, and indeed are her largest ever. Experts are of opinion that the acute coal shortage of last winter will be avoided. Measuies being carried out include the construction of special unloading sidings around London, also provision of five hundred Government dumps throughout the country holding five million tons. There are 180 dumpsin London.