NAZI BLACKMAILING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 49, 26 January 1944, Page 5

NAZI BLACKMAILING

HUNGER AS A WEAPON

(Rec. 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 25. The Nazis are deliberately depriving the French, Belgians and Dutch of food and clothing this winter to weaken the spirit of resistance among the inhabitants in the area the German High Command has earmarked as the invasion coast, says the New York Herald-Tribune’s London correspondent. Most sources agree, however, that the policy of deprivation has failed to accomplish its objective and resistance to the Nazis has not diminished in direct ratio to the physical decline of the people. Recent arrivals from Western Europe report that the morale of the underground movement remains high and sabotage, particularly on important _supplv routes, continues on an appreciable scale. They believe that any spark could explode the dynamite of a large-scale assault from the rear on the German defences. Civilian morale, however, has declined steadily throughout last year, and to that extent the German policy has apparently succeeded. It has been mark* ed by a general reduction in rations and failure to make goods available to fill the requirements for which coupons are issued. The German policy of deprivation is apparently intended as a blackmailing gesture to force work or collaboration in return for the minimum necessities.