THE HESS MYSTERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 204, 30 August 1943, Page 5

THE HESS MYSTERY

EXPLANATION OF ATTACK ON RUSSIA

Recd. 7 p.m. London, Aug. 27. Though the Germans are now hard pressed on three main fronts in Russia, there was a time when they thought that their blitzkrieg methods would win them a quick victory. There was a reminder of this to-day when Mr. Brendan Bracken, the British Minister of Information, explained one of the war’s most intriguing mysteries, the dramtic arrival in this country in May, 1941, of Hitler’s lieutenant, Rudolf Hess. Mr. Bracken told reporters in New York that Hess really believed he would find Quislings so anxious for peace that they would push out the Government and thus leave Hitler free to attack Russia.

The Duke of Hamilton, a gallant young airman, was completely dazed when Hess landed on his estate, said Mr. Bracken.

Hess expected, said Mr. Bracken, that when he gave us the glittering secret of the attack on Russia. Mr. Churchill would be forced out. “He was a Nazi of very low mentality. He just babbled like the usual Nazi stooge, highly excited, altogether foolish, and wo couldn’t get a grain of sense out of him.”

(Hess made his sensational flight to Britain on May 10, 1941. and the German assault on Russia began on June 22). Mr. Bracken told his Press conference that although the Russian armies had won great successes, Hitler still had a formidable army on the Eastern Front. It was capably led, and would make an effort to inflict grievous blows on Russia this summer and in the autumn.

“We must, at almost any cost, take some of the terrible weight off Russia,” he said. “I believe that Hitler knows he can’t win the war militarily but that he hopes to sow disunion among the United Nations and so

escape by political means the consequences of brutal aggression.” Mr. Bracken said he wa% optimistic that a three-Power conference, including Russia, would be arranged. The reporters asked Mr. Bracken what he thought about the Frencji Committee of National Liberation now recognised by Britain, the United States, and Russia. The Minister replied that the committee was settling down as a good, hard-working team and was doing admirable work.

“We are definitely going to finish off Italy,” Mr. Bracken replied to another question, “but this won’t deter us from cultivating campaigns in other parts of Europe. I believe that Marshal Badoglio is quite anxious to get Italy out of the war because the longer it goes on the more onerous it will become, and I wouldn't like to insure that country.”