CZECH LEADER

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 6

CZECH LEADER

Predicts Nazi Defeat

« LONDON, March 14. Dr Benes gave a broadcast to the Czechs on the eve of the third anniversary of the German entry into Prague. He said: I know for an absolute certainty, from Berlin itself, that the German military leaders believe that only a miracle can save Germany. He recounted Germany’s mistakes, culminating in the fatal blunder in thinking she could destroy Russia in six weeks. > He added: Now finally they are staking all on a single card —their coming Spring offensive against Russia'. This will in its ultimate results ,be their final disappointment. Even though I expect, with certainty, some successes for them at the beginning of that offensive, 1 count on an equal certainty that we shall see events this autumn which will herald to us an .approaching inevitable crisis and catastrophe for the whole German military-political system. The climax of this crisis can | scarcely come later than the spring of 1943, and Japan will be defeated by the fall of Germany. I myself had desired that war should have broken out in September, 1938, before Munich. I counted on Hitler’s provoking it. I did prepare accordingly. But the rest of Europe, especially the western democracies, did not understand the situation in 1938, and were not prepared for war. I saw that it would have been a mistake for us to embark on defensive War against the Germans alone. We were forced to make a sacrifice, which wa's, perhaps, unique in history. We ransomed peace for the world with a piece of flesh from our own body. It again is only part of the law of this war that weakness and errors in France and Poland and other Central European States were paid for so heavily, and are still being paid for. But in its laws lies also our resurrection. We have not so long to wait now.”