NAZI BLUNDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1941, Page 5

NAZI BLUNDER

PERCEIVED BY DR, BENES SPECTRE OF GERMAN VICTORY REMOVED. DUTY OF THE CZECHS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 24. Mr Churchill’s splendid speech on Sunday was a great summons, said Dr. Benes, President of the Czechoslovak National Committee, in a broadcast to the Czechoslovak people today, but it was above ail a great statesmanlike action. "Hitler thought he would settle with Russia after a defeat of Britain,” Dr. Benes said. "This defeat did not come about, and thus Germany saw that she could not be certain either of the day or the hour when something would happen when Britain, together with America, would go over to the offensive next spring. "It was, therefore, necessary to liquidate Russia at whatever cost, either by agreement or by war and before Britain and America would bo prepared for their spring offensive; and so these German criminals and madmen have decided on their fateful last act. They have attacked the Soviet Union. “It must never be forgotten that the present Nazi pan-Germanism has endeavoured in this war to destroy all the Slavonic States and nations one after another: First, Czechoslovakia: then Poland, then Yugoslavia, and now' the greatest Slavonic State. Russia. At the same time it incites individual sections of these nations against each other. “The quislings who lend themselves to this in Slovakia, the regicides in Croatia and. shortly, perhaps slaves paid by Berlin in the Ukraine will be for ever cursed by these nations and will be for ever condemned by our history. In none of these nations must they escape from their merited punishment.”

Dr. Benes said that Hitler’s mistake in invading Russia had removed the spectre of a German victory and his action had decided the issue of the war. The duty of the Czechs was to continue to work within the framework of the Allies’ policy. DUTCH QUEEN’S BROADCAST. Warm approval of Mr Churchill’s announcement was expressed in a broadcast by the Netherland’s Sovereign, Queen Wilhelmina, who said: “Compatriot listeners in the Netherlands, in the tropics and all those belonging to my people: I wish to address you today because of the new aspect of the war which has revealed itself as a result of the sudden treacherous attack by Hitler’s hordes upon the Russian people, an attack of which the only purpose is mastery of the food and raw materials which he needs to continue the battle against justice and freedom.

“When a similar catastrophe befell us we joined the group of peoples who had prepared themselves for battle to defend and regain their freedom. Side by side with these people, we have now joined in the combat with all the means at our disposal, military as well as economic, with our shipping or by passive resistance. Our fight is directed against Satanic principles and abominable practices.”

BRITISH PARTIES

APPROVAL OF POLICY OF GOVERNMENT INCREASING ACTIVITY COMMENDED. CO-OPERATION WITH SOVIET. LONDON, June 24. In the debate in the House of Commons which followed on Mr Eden’s statement on the Nazi invasion of Russia. members of all parties expressed agreement with the Government’s policy. Mr L. Hore-Belisha (National Liberal) welcomed the promptitude and vigour with which Mr Churchill had’ spoken on the subject, and said it was gratifying to see that the Government was increasing its activity in every sphere, particularly in the air. Mr H. B. Lees-Smith (Labour) said that next winter Hitler would be faced by a situation in which he would have to hold down in Europe a great number of nations which were determined to strike for freedom and vengeance when the opportunity came. He could not at the same time hold down 180,000,000 Russians if their spirit of resistance was what it used to be. In the House of Lords. Lord Cranborne said that Britain and Soviet Russia had a common cause. They were fighting the same ruthless foe. The defeat of either would be an increased peril for the other.