NAZIS HESITATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23721, 30 July 1940, Page 7

NAZIS HESITATE

WISDOM OF OFFENSIVE OPINION DIVIDED ITALIAN FEARS GROW LONDON, July 2G Circumstantial evidence accumulates to support the belief that there is disagreement among the German High Command about the advisability of invading Britain. There is also evidence to suggest that Italy, fearful that because Germany will not attempt an invasion of Britain the latter will be freer to deal with tasks other than the driving off of an invading army, expects Britain to begin concentrated aerial, and possibly naval, attacks against Italy. Naval Power Lacking Britisli military commentators believe there are no longer grounds for doubting that a division of opinion exists among the German leaders on the subject of an invasion of Britain. Originally, it appears, Reich-Marshal Goering, believing that the air force could effectively protect an invading sea-borne army in small boats, opposed the statements of General von Keitel, Chief of the Armed Forces, and Grand Admiral Racder, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, that, on naval and military grounds, the absence of a strong navy made invasion b}' the Army impracticable. Factor of United States Neutral sources now state that Goering has been persuaded to the viewpoint of von Keitel and Raeder, that power on the sea surface alone guarantees a sale maritime crossing. The German Foreign Minister, von Ribbenlrop, is reported to have urged that whatever plan is to be decided upon should be formulated before the United States conies into the war. This has strengthened the hands of those of the Nazi hierarchy who urge against an invasion of Britain, since they argue that nothing would more surely bring in the United States than a direct invasion of Britain. Authoritative quarters in London, describing conditions in the Middle East, point out that the policy of the British Commander-in-Chief in Egypt must be one of "active defence." "Strike Italy Hard" Military commentators, however, suggest that if the coming weeks prove —and Hitler has only eight weeks more of ideal war weather —that the line of steel, concrete, guns, and men girdling Britain has dissuaded the Germans from trying an invasion, then Britain should begin to take the offensive against Italy in the Mediterranean more determinedly. The Manchester Guardian, in a leading article supporting this view, states: "The double enemy must be made to bend where he is weakest, and that place is Italy. We can make no offensive on the Continent this year, and just because wars are only won by the offensive spirit we must balance our defensive here by striking Italy hard in the Mediterranean, even if active defence remains the rule in Africa." WOMEN WATCHERS LOOKOUT FOR AIRCRAFT LONDON, July 26 The Suffolk village of Benhall has instituted a women's home guard of volunteers, aged between 17 and 70, to watch the skies from dawn to dark when the official Home Guards are on duty. The organiser, Mrs. Pepper, a farmer's wife, said that, except for women nursing young babies, all the villagers had enlisted. "We are practical women," she said. "Last week our members on duty extinguished a fire, that was threatening a wheatfield. We daily practise identifying aircraft. Some of us are good shots, but at present we are not permitted to carry arms." The Chief of the Benhall Home Guards thoroughly approves and- welcomes the women's assistance. DOMINION POTATOES MARKETING IN SYDNEY (Received July 30, 12.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, July 29 The first shipment of New Zealand potatoes since the lifting of the Commonwealth's ban on importation was marketed in Sydney to-day at the officially fixed price of £ll a ton, which is the same as for Tasmanian Whiteskins. No difficulty is anticipated in disposing of the New Zealand consignment.