DECLINE SHOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1942, Page 3

DECLINE SHOWN

IN WAR PRODUCTION IN GERMANY AT TIME OF GREAT. NEED DESPITE REORGANISATION EFFORTS. ITALY IN SERIOUS STRAITS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, May 10. Germany’s preparation for a great offensive against Russia has a complication which was absent from all previous campaigns in this war. At a time when increased production is most needed, its volume has actually dropped, resulting in the necessity for a complete reorganisation of the internal structure. The German Government has made many changes in an attempt to simplify and unify the control of war industry. The latest of these attempts is the appointment of an Armaments Council, comprised of High Army officers, production officials and industrialists, which is by-passing the Civil Service administration wherever possible in an attempt to shorten the interval between Army demand and factory production. As a result of ceaseless heavy fighting and losses on the Eastern front, the High Command has drawn heavily on winter production, which in previous years has been safely piled up for a spring offensive. Thousands of skilled workmen have been drawn from factories for the strengthening of the Army. Reorganisation has relieved the burden oh hard-worked, central bodies in which the greatest dissatisfaction existed in recent months. They included many non-members of the Nazi Party. Hitler realises how much he is dependent on party members, for which reason he has recently taken precautions to see that strong Nazis occupy all key positions in political, administrative, justice and economic spheres. The “Economist” says: “It is too early to say what will be the effect of this wholesale remodelling of Germany’s administrative structure. Meanwhile it must be an element of weakness —which Allied strategists should obviously take into account.” • “The Times” says the German leaders no longer hide the difficulties of manpower, transport and food supply, but the free peoples prudently remember that these difficulties largely exist because everything is being done to prepare the German fighting services for their greatest ■ effort. Meanwhile how stands the Axis partner, Italy? There are many speculations, consequent of recent events, that Italy is seething with discontent and might break away from Germany and replace Mussolini. Informed circles, however, are of opinion that Mussolini’s Fascist edifice is crumbling and disintegrating to indifference, passivity and lassitude instead of active revolt against the Nazi masters. Italy now faces a position in which the food situation is growing monthly more alarming as a result of the blockade, the rapidly declining productivity of European agriculture and Germany’s claims. The “Economist” states: “Strict rationing has proved singularly ineffective, largely because of the lack of discipline among the Italian people. The “black market” is rampant in Italy, in which the rich are interested as consumers and the poor as producers, resulting in prices skyrocketing and a growing danger of inflation. Italy’s economic position is one of bitter hardship, shared most inequitably between rich and poor. An Italian collapse would be awkward at present for the Nazis, who regard Italy merely as a producer of certain vital foodstuffs and raw materials. There is no doubt that Germany is demanding food and workers from Italy—reserves of which Italy is getting short, but Musolini cannot refuse. The Gestapo has not arrived in Italy to deal with political unrest, but to ensure that Italy delivers the goods, despite social apathy. Bearing in mind these Axis problems, and while they should not be fastened upon too hopefully, they indicate that the Allied nations are not the only ones having difficulties. There is no doubt that the Axis machine is far less immaculate than at the outbreak of war, while every month sees the Allies polishing up their war effort to growing efficiency and striking power.”