AFRICA ALERT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 9

AFRICA ALERT

POLICY OF NAZIS "SMASH AND GRAB" NO DELUSIONS HELD STAND WITH BRITAIN By Teiesrraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October Qfi, p.m.) Britisli Wireless LONDON, Oct. 2.*> The Minister of Native Affairs in South Africa, Colonel Deneys Reitz, in an Empire broadcast from London, referred to the forthcoming presence in Loudon of Dominion Ministers. Their presence, he said, would do a great service to the common cause and would he proof, not only of Imperial solidarity, but also of the realisation of the fate awaiting smaller nations in the event of a Nazi victory. South Africa, especially, was under no delusion. Her strategic position, her small white population, and the fact that she produced three-quarters of the world's gold supply, made it sure that she would be the first to go under should Germany succeed. Fundamental Distinctions Colonel Reitz, after dealing with the fundamental distinctions between South Africa and the other Dominions in race and language, said: "In the past we fought two hitter wars against the British. 1. myself, who am speaking to you this afternoon, served for three years under arms against the British Empire, and 1 went into exile in a strange land .rather than serve under the British flap:. "I mention these things to show you the difference between our own past and that of the other Dominions. But, with a generosity unknown in history, Britain conferred on us an even greater measure of liberty than we enjoyed under our own republics. "As a voluntary partner in the British Commonwealth, we N are not only to-day free, but are far safer than we could hope to be if we were on our own, with the 'smash-and-grab' policy which is now trying to dominate the world." Not to be Disgraced Passing to events in South Africa on the outbreak of war, the Minister said that many Afrikaan-speaking peoples favoured at first neutrality, but the position was rapidly improving, because it was realised a neutral South Africa \yould be a disgraced South Africa at the mercy of Germany, who would strip from her South-West Africa, which the South African troops captured in 1915. "We have achieved liberty, progress and security within the four corners of the Empire, and wo are not going to exchange the substance of what we possess for the shadows that await us without." The King to-day received Colonel Ileitis.

SWING OF OPINION SUPPOKT FOR SMUTS STRONG UNION MOVEMENT JOHANNESBURG REPORT LONDON, Oct. 25 Opinion throughout the Union of South Africa is strongly swinging toward General Smuts' policy, says the Johannesburg' correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Company. Zoutpansberg, a reactionary centre, is now solidly for General Smuts. The Witwatersrand United Party branches are 92 per cent for the Government.

GNEISENAU SUNK NORWEGIAN REPORT _ (Received October 27, 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 20 Did the Rovnl Air Force sink the battleship Gneisenau during the Wilheimshaven raid? The Norwegian newspaper Arbeiderbladet publishes nil evewitness' story claiming that a fromb fell down the Gneisenau's funnel, breaking the ship in half, but the Air Ministry has no confirmation of this report,