SPATE OF SPECULATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 120, 19 April 1944, Page 5

SPATE OF SPECULATION

GERMANS QUERULOUS. (Special Correspondent.) (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Aprill 18. Axis commentators who have been forecasting an Allied invasion of Europe for a year are now excelling themselves in a spate of speculation, some of which is obviously spurred by the British ban on diplomats. The German military commentator (Hallensleben) says: "Extensive German preparations and the massed concentration of British and American forces indicate that it will not be long now before the invasion starts." A Berlin spokesman commented that the invasion largely depends on the weather and that "next week's weather will be favourable for gigantic operations", while a military spokesman says, "The British and Americans might be able to win the first round . Another commentator says: "We have completed the regrouping of our reserves on the Western Front ready for the invasion.", The Dailv Express's Berne correspondent states that an interesting indication of the mind of Germany at present is an article in the Stuttgart Kurier which says: "Everywhere in restaurants, railways, offices, and factories a large number of problems are now being discussed. Many Germans may believe it is dangerous to talk frankly about these questions which worry them. Why should we not discuss them openly for once?" The article continues to ask questions and reply to them. The questions include: "Why do we not throw our reserves into the battle ? How long do you want to wait without bombing retaliation—until all our cities are smashed to dust? Why do we not use our aviation reserves if we have them ? Is it not a fact that the British and Americans are now literally swamping us with their unlimited material, and by the continuous invasion threat our reserves are immobilised in Western and Southern Europe and during this time we are bleeding to death in Russia? Why do we not do something about it All the answers give a soothing reply. Laval also had something to say when addressing provincial mayors. He commented on the second front: "Perhaps this day is impending now. Even if the invasion should not take place, the menace is serious enough as we fear the Allies will try to, stage a partisan warfare on our soil. I have been worried about the possibility of a landing."