“SECRET WEAPONS”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 275, 20 November 1943, Page 3

“SECRET WEAPONS”

MILD INTEREST CAUSED IN BRITAIN (Special Correspondent.—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 6.30 p.m. London, Nov. 17. German threats of using a secret weapon against England form a subject which is causing mild interest and speculation. Nazi propagandists have recently been pouring out blood-curd-ling stories about secret weapons they intend to use. It seems that they promise:— (1) A rs-lio-coTitrollM bomb claimed to be 100 per cent, accurate up to a range of five miles. (2) A new rocket projectile which when fired from the French co»st will be certain to get the immense target of Greater London. (3) A rocket projected bomb that causes "amazing frightfulness.” Apparently the Nazi propagandists at present plump for the French coast rocket. The Berlin correspondent of a Spanish newspaper in Madrid states:—“There is scarcely a German who does not take it for granted that the skies will soon be ploughed by thousands of stratosphere rockets.” The Daily Telegraph, discussing the subject, says: “Of course, there is nothing inherently impossible in such a bombardment. During this war weapons of a rocket type have been developed to a great extent. It is quite possible that Hitler’s technicians are trying to develop a very large long-range rocket in emplacements built along the French coast. The technical difficulties that have to be overcome would be enormous and such a rocket, if the Germans ever did produce it, would he a most inaccurate weapon, suitable only for the bombardment of large-area, targets such as London. The opinion is expressed that none-the-less theoretically it is a possibility, but hardly likely to be on any considerable scale. The Daily Express Istanbul correspondent states: “An anti-Nazi Austrian refugee said that two things keep German morale from snapping. Firstly, a belief that differences will arise between the Anglo-Saxons and the Russians, permitting Hitler to make a quick peace deal with the Soviet; secondly, a belief in the terrible efficiency of a German secret reprisal weapon.” “If by Christmas this weapon has not been materialised I predict a rapid crumbling of the internal morale of the Germans,” he said.