GERMANS SHAKEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 206, 1 August 1941, Page 6

GERMANS SHAKEN

MOUNTING CONCERN. 1 SHOCK OF SETBACK. I (United Press Association —Copyright) | (Rec. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. j Vividly describing the mounting alarm and despondency in GerI many, a Times correspondent on the German frontier declares that the widespread, latent opposition to the Hitler regime has become more articulate and is snowballing throughout the Reich. The German High Command is doing its utmost to capitalise the break-through at Smolensk, blit a multitude of signs suggest that the Avar lias retched a crucial stage. Tile Germans are frankly admitting the urgent need of a decisive result ivithin a few days. The endless succession of hospital trains from the east, interminable newspaper columns of death notices, and the calling up of further recruits for the army on July 30 have markedly increased the Germans’ nerA'ousness and restlessness. British and American aid for Russia lias increased their disquietude.

Wounded relate that the German blitz lias failed because the Russians are equally mechanised and fearless. Fanatical and murderous guerrilla activity on a mass-scale lias defied counteraction.

An immediate, siveeping military triumph leading to tangible results can alone silence the open denunciation of the invasion of Russia. At present the break-through to Smolensk and the appalling Russian losses are inadequate to dispel the misgivings of the Reich.

The population are continuously tormented by R.A.F. raids.

The Volkischer Beobachter betrays the serious change in public sentiment from the serene confidence existing in June. The newspaper, with queer logic, declares: “The Red Army’s stubborn and desperate resistance is striking proof that the Soviet constitutes a mortaf danger to Germany and Europe, which is Avhy Ave must not be alloAved to lie impressed by the number of wounded or the frequency of the death notices, but must consider the enormous number of soldiers battling. The Russians’ losses are irremediable, liecause Germany aims at the destruction of the Soviet forces.

“The German losses are relatively insignificant, because once the conquest of Russia is complete Germany will be the sole military Power in Europe. Even enfeeblenient Avould he unimportant for the future of Europe.”

SUPREME TRIAL.

The Times correspondent adds everyone realises the German army is facing the most supreme test in its history. The public’s iistlessness has vanished in the face of the evident national peril. Hourly news is ravenously devoured, hut the noncommittal High Command merely increases the uneasiness.

The correspondent mentions a report that a German tank division has broken through at Smolensk, but the Russians arc confident they will annihilate the division long before it reaches tile outskirts of Moscow.

The Wilhelmstrassc, it is reported, expects Leningrad to fall A'ery shortly. but refuses precise details. The correspondent says the Germans undeniably disregard the cost of attempting the blitz rush against Leningrad.

To-day’s German communique says the German forces have penetrated deeply into the lines of the retreating enemy in the Ukraine and the encirclement of the enemy cast of Smolensk has drawn closer. The units in Esthonia have thrust the enemy back. The Office of Production Management, in Washington, recommends the prioritv manufacture of 10.000 steel drums to bo used for shipping aviation petrol to Russia.