SCORCHED EARTH POLICY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23111, 27 January 1945, Page 5

SCORCHED EARTH POLICY

Hitler Issues Order

Everything Useful To Be Destroyed

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 26. The Moscow radio announced that Hitler has issued an Order of the Day to every commander, instructing them to scorch all soil abandoned in the path of the Red Army.

Generals have been instructed to form commandos of reliable men to carry out the order. Everything useful to the Russians must be burned or destroyed—private and public buildings, communal undertakings and industrial premises with machinery and equipment, provisions, supplies and all material which cannot be evacuated. The Moscow correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that Marshal Rokossovsky’s forces are astonished at the quantity of loot in ordinary German homes. One cottage, for example, contained furniture and domestic articles which had trade marks of nine different countries once occupied by the Germans, including Greece, France, Yugoslavia and Russia. The Moscow correspondent of “The Times” says: “There is nothing orderly about the evacuation of East Prussia. Most civilians fled leaving everything, including foreign serfs, great numbers of whom are being liberated. Tailors left hot irons scorching officers’ uniforms. Trunks which the more prudent had prepared were found unpacked. Huge dumps of ammunition intended for the front have been seized.” Pitiful Exodus Breslau’s streets are empty. Only the roads leading from the town are thronged with the pitiful exodus of women and children fleeing west, declared a German war correspondent, broadcasting from the Silesian front. “Breslau can hear the din of battle to-night, and explosions are rocking city buildings. Russian tanks are roaming through the district, and 300,000 persons have already been evacuated. Those remaining have been told that the arrival of the first enemy tanks will immediately be reported, and they must continue working until then.” Another correspondent, giving the tailpiece to this report, said: “The battle amid the chimneys and pitheads has become still fiercer and the danger more acute. We, in spite of all exertions, have been unable to prevent the enemy biting deeper into our land. The battle flares up more ferociously than ever.” Tire Berlin radio declared: “Our counter-measures are not yet ready. We must lash out in all directions with fists and claws to gain control of the storm sweeping over our eastern borders." The German News Agency, after admitting that the Russian offensive was not losing momentum, adds: “The struggle for Germany’s destiny has reached a climax. We demand iron nerves, unshakeable faith and loyalty. Danger will threaten for days, perhaps weeks.”