HITLER’S MOVES

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1940, Page 7

HITLER’S MOVES

WHAT NEXT?

“Times” Speculates

[British Official Wireless] (Received Dec. 19, 9.30 p.m.) RUGBY, December 19.

“The Times” say.: It may be taken as a matter of course that the Italian campaigns and their repercussions have been anxiously studied in Berlin. The apparent Nazi quiescence certainly .masks an abundance of underground activity. Whatever contempt Herr Hitler may feel for Signor Mussolini, he cannot afford to allow Italy to be driven out of the war, or Signor Mussolini to be driven from power, if he • can help it. These contingencies are not yet imminent. But they are beginning to loom on the horizon, and Herr Hit-; ler must have taken his precautions. Nazi pre-invasion methods of infiltration and permeation utilized so successfully in Norway and Holland have certainly been practiced in Italy. In place of the much-canvas-sed drives against Gibraltar or Constantinople, Her Hitler may seek to reach 'the Mediterranean by a less devious route. Rarely has the policy of one man contributed so much to the humiliation of his country as Signor Mussolini’s policy to the humiliation of Italy.”

German Troops Trains

REPORTED ENTRY TO

NEW YORK, December 18.

The ■ Belgrade correspondent of the “New York Times” insists that German troops are going to Italy by way of the Brenner Pass. He asserts: “Eye-witnesses, to-night, report that they are long troop trains, laden with field-grey uniformed soldiers, and equipment. AT BOTH ENDS OF ITALY FURTHER RUMOURS [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 20, 1.5 a.m.) NEW -YORK, December 19. The Columbia Broadcasting Corporation’s Belgrade representative said: “Authoritative sources here have said that German forces are new concentrated at Taranto and at Turin in Italy. Ther e are no precise figures available. According to eye-witness reports reaching here, German troops were sighted early this week going southward through the Brenner Pass. Others were seen aboard a ship at Trieste.” ITALIAN TRAINS CANCELLED. (Received December 19. 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 19.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent on the Italian frontier reports: Fourty-four Italian passenger trains, including important expresses, have been cancelled from to-day. There is speculation as to whether this is due to troop movements or a coal shortage. GERMANS IN ITALY? OFFICIAL DENIALS’. LONDON, December 18. The report that German troops are concentrating at Bari and Naples is categorically denied in Berlin and Rome. The British, authorities lack confirmation and view the report sceptically, but the “Standard’s” Belgrade correspondent says that the movement of German troops to Italy is continuing, accompanied by • huge quantities of war materials. It is not known on what front they are intended to be engaged, but it is noteworthy that Bari is the embarkation point for Albania, and Naples for Africa. ’

Italian soldiers deserting across the Jugoslav border say they have seen German troops in Italy. German sources in Belgrade say that German troops will probably remain in Italy, to maintain order.