HITLER’S TUNE CHANGES

Southland Times, Issue 24865, 3 October 1942, Page 5

HITLER’S TUNE CHANGES

Comment On Latest Speech LONDON, October 1. Most London newspaper comment on Hitler’s speech emphasizes the change in his attitude compared with that of a year ago. Then he predicted a blitzkrieg and quick victory. Yesterday he outlined a programme for a war of exhaustion. “A Hitler who is intensively organizing captured territory and carefully developing the supply lines in the rear of his troops may be more dangerous than a Hitler who strove to smash his way through with headlong assaults regardless of what happened behind his panzer spearheads,” says The Manchester Guardian. The newspaper observes that the speech apparently announces Germany’s change to a more defensive strategy and says that Hitler is now turning his hopes to a war of exhaustion which will make Britain and America tire first. “It is an inglorious descent, but we must not forget how tough a defensive battle the Germans can fight,” adds The Guardian. The New York Times says: “No one paid a more resounding tribute to the invincible confidence of the United Nations that they will conquer in the end.” „ , The Daily Express inquires: Did Hitler write his speech?” and comments that it is different from any of his previous big speeches. The Express says: “It was slick and more flippant; it was less loaded with home-made history and ranting; and it did not sound much like Hitler.” The newspaper then suggests that it might have been written by one of Goebbels’ young men. EMBARRASSING TASK The Daily Telegraph says: “Hitler had the embarrassing task, of living down last year’s reckless optimism. For this reason he resorted to the old trick of confusing his hearers by attributing to his opponents’ actions of which he

himself had been guilty. Compared with the tone and substance of his utterances of last year it marks a retreat from his former overweening confidence which the United Nations may view with moderate encouragement.” An interesting and perhaps significant section of the speech was Hitler’s statement that “every saboteur of this people’s community will be ruthlessly destroyed. At a time when the flower of our manhood stands at the front and pledges its life there is no room for criminals or good for nothings who harm the nation. Whoever takes for himself what is meant for the troops can expect no mercy. No German woman should ever have to go home from work at night in fear of being attacked. We shall exterminate these elements. Troops cannot be expected to sacrifice lives without the assurance that dependants at home will be protected.”