AXIS DISCONTENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 116, 20 May 1942, Page 5

AXIS DISCONTENT

GERMANY AND ITALY DISILLUSIONED, BUT NO REVOLT YET (By Telegraph—Press Association—CopyrightLisbon, May 18. An analysis of the views of American Press correspondents from Berlin and Rome who are on their way home reveals that there is widespread discontent and disillusionment about the war in both Germany and Italy, but they hold out little hope for a revolt until the Axis has suffered a military defeat. Louis Lockner, formerly Associated Press correspondent in Berlin, says that the best estimates put Germany’s casualties so far at 2,500,000, including 750,000 dead. The fact that this is a mechanical war has raised the gravest doubts of Germany victory in the minds of the people. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press, Mr. Derek Oechsner, says that the Germans have passed through the worst winter since 1918, but tne position of Hitler and the Nazis shows no sign of weakening. Far from being relaxed, the German war effort is being intensified. “The organisation of an effective anti-Nazi movement is still impossible,” he says, ‘‘but I have evidence that there is a , powerful group, reaching high up in i some quarters, ready to take over rule in Germany if anything should happen to Hitler.” The Rome correspondent of the Associated Press, Richard Massock, stresses the feelings of bitterness and hopelessness in Italy. The Italian people, imbued with defeatism, are fighting the war at home more than on the world front. The Italians’ deep--3 rooted hatred of the Germans is be- " coming intensified as the Nazis tighten ’ their stranglehold on the country. Everything indicates that the food situation is becoming worse. Italy is finding it difficult to feed the German garrison in addition to her own people.