GERMAN ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23953, 31 October 1939, Page 9

GERMAN ARMY

REASON FOR HESITATION NOT READY TO STRIKE HERR HITLER'S IMPATIENT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, Oct. 29. Mr Phillip, the Paris correspondent of the New York Times, states that the contrast between Herr Hitler’s past actions and the hesitation in the west during the last two months is so marked that it cannot be dismissed as part of his plan. “ It is argued here that if Germany was ready to strike with any prospect of success she would have done so long ago,” he says. “ Herr Hitler is always almost hysterically impatient of delay, and it is concluded that the German army was utterly unprepared for the British and French declaration of war. Herr von Ribbentrop had been assuring Hitler for months that the British would not declare war. It is certain that internal questions in Germany complicated matters. “When there has been trouble within the party Herr Hitler has always dropped everything until it has been settled, usually by further concentration of power in his hands. It is believed he summoned the gauleiters last week to test their loyalty and impose further obligations. It is said (without confirmation) that a purge is proceeding throughout the army; “ It is certain that the somersault policy that marked the Soviet pact has no more than 50 per cent, approval, even within the party, and Herr Hitler must straighten the matter at all costs before he risks a major offensive.” CAPTURED GERMAN PLANE Middled with bullets LONDON, Oct. 29. Every part of the German machine shot down in Scotland on Saturday bore traces of devastating British machine gun fire. The British fighter pilots speak admiringly of the pilot who, though suffering from numerous wounds, pancaked his machine on a hillside and staggered out of the machine with the aid of the navigator, who was the only one not wounded. One of the crew said in English to a policeman: “We surrender as prisoners of war. Please see to my gunners,” but both gunners were dead. TROOPS FROM INDIA TRANSPORTED WITHOUT LOSS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Oct. 29. The Government of India is now in a position to state that all troops who have proceeded out of India have arrived safely at their destinations and that no Indian units have so far suffered any loss. Some Indian officers of the Royal Indian Navy are working with the Royal Navy for war duties, but the exact number has not been announced. CLOTH RATIONING CARDS ISSUED IN GERMANY LONDON, Oct. 29. The Copenhagen correspondent of The Times states that Politiken learns that cloth rationing cards are being introduced in Germany owing to the unpopularity of the nresent system under which application for anything from a handkerchief to a frock or suit is granted only after careful investigation and personal official visits to the applicant’s home in order to inspect his or her wardrobe. The card, representing the annual ration, comprises 150 coupons. One gives the right to buy a collar, 25 a child’s frock, 40 to 50 a lady’s cloak. Business circles fear that the simultaneous use of all coupons will thus paralyse trade. BANNED IN FRANCE AUTONOMIST PARTIES LONDON, Oct. 29. The Paris correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain states that M. Daladier banned three Alsace-Lorraine autonomist parties controlled by Karl Rooms, who was executed as a German spy last Friday. The parties were key units in the agitation for the separation of Alsace-Lorraine from France. PRINTED MATTER NEW BRITISH REGULATIONS (British Official Wireless' RUGBY, Oct. 29. Communication orders prohibiting the carrying of printed matter to places outside the United Kingdom and the export and import other than by post of articles such as newspapers, books, maps, etc., to most neutral European countries, which were issued at the outbreak of war as necessary measures to combat the passing out of Britain of information valuable to the enemy by spies in this country, have now been replaced by new orders from the War Office. Under a new order a nermit is no longer required for sending printed matter to any British dominion, colony, mandated territory, or to Eire, France, or any North or South American country. No prohibited matter may be posted, carried or shipped to neutral European countries, China, Japan, or Russia, but permits are granted to I the trade.