NO COLLAPSE

Grey River Argus, 23 October 1943, Page 5

NO COLLAPSE

GERMANY’S STRENGTH Goebbels on War Position (Rec. 9.10.) LONDON, Oct. 21. Dr. Goebbels, in an article, in “Das Reich” declared: We fully realise a temporary weakness in our position, but we do not for this reason overlook dur strength and our chances of victory, which are bound up with this strength. Our military position during the Summej’ suffered something of a decline, owing to the Italian Royal House’s treachery. This caused our disengaging movements on the Eastern Front, as we had to withdraw divisions from the East to cover our southern flank. This ’ made the shortening of the Eastern Front necessary. However, what has happened in Russia bears no relation to dangers which Italy’s desertion would have brought on us if the enemy had had his way. Our command has been confronted with an extraordinarily trying test. We fully realise how sorely during the last four months our eastern armies have been tried. This war was forced on us. It therefore is a war of defence in the proper meaning of the word. We must, temporarily, be content wit. defensive successes, and take advantage of them to strengthen our general position. Our failure in November, 1918, has made the whole world believe that our moral steadfastness is particularly susceptible. That Js why it now is so difficult to make the world, and above all our enemies, realise that the collapse of 1918 was a unique and tragic event in' our history which will not and cannot be repeated.” Morale in Germany REPORTS OF DECLINE. (Rec. 9.30.) LONDON, Oct. 22. The “Daily Telegraph” says: A serious decline has occurred in German morale. Reports from many quarters shpw that a crisis must develop if the Nazis fail to stop the rot. German home broadcasts are more guarded than foreign ones, but nevertheless the average German knows that the Wehrmacht has suffered a lona series of defeats in Russia, ana doubts whether' the tide can be stemmed. Underground reports agree this pessimistic view is common throughout Germany. There is a belief that Germany cannot win the war and hopes of a compromise peace are fading. Germans generally realise that the U-boat campaign has failed, and for every intelligent German, the British-Portuguese agreement on the Azores Islands killed any lingering hope of victory in the Atlantic.