MORE MANPOWER

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21665, 27 February 1942, Page 3

MORE MANPOWER

GREAT GERMAN DRIVE EVERYTHING FOR WAR DEMANDS BY LEADERS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. cony rig-fit) LONDON, Feb. 25 Germany is engaged in a drive for manpower on a grand scale, and it extends from the highest to the lowest. Hitler’s cry of “Work! work! work!” is being re-echoed by every succeeding tspeaker, ,-reports the Times diplomatic correspondent. Dr. Ley, addressing Rhineland workers, said: “I bring nothing—l require and demand!” The German armies seem to have largely been concentrated at strong points along the Eastern front. Generals like Bock and von Runstedt have been brought back from the Russian front. Industry has been put on a new basis, and is no longer providing simply for warpath, but for warfare, the end of which cannot be predicted. Five-sizths of the whole of German industry are working for the services, and smaller, inefficient and uneconomic factories are being abolished or are merging, and there are more hours working each day. Nine Million Women Nine million women are already working in German industry. Germany’s industrial strength is 24,000,000, apart from imported foreign workers. Mansfeld, the new controller of labour, plans to increase foreign workers to 5,000,000, particularly from Russia. He has already ordered all metallurgical workers in Kiev between the ages of 17 and 50 to register for employment in Germany. Theoretically, German production reached its peak in 1941, but the facts, adds the Times, have a way of defeating theories. The Germans were overstrained for nine years, and the proof of this is the growth of disease in Germany. Russia has taken out much of Germany’s spirit, and the lack of rubber, oil, textiles and leather is evident, but Hitler now puts the Germans to the greatest test, and hopes with the Reichswehr to turn the scale. RAIDS OVER GERMANY KIEL AMONG THE TARGETS (Omcial Wireless) (Received Feb. 27, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 26 The Air Ministry reports that aircraft of the Bomber Command last night attacked Kiel and other objectives ; n North-west Germany. Two British aircraft are missing. CONSCRIPTION ISSUE PLEBISCITE IN CANADA (tlnlicd Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copy.-lßht) OTTAWA, Feb. 25 The Canadian Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, in the House of Commons, vigorously defended the plebiscite to be taken on the conscription issue. The bill was designed to liberate the Government from past commitments in the method of raising men for military service. He said: “It is not because of the present situation. On the contrary, great numbers now volunteer for service, but nobody knows how long the war will last, and v/hat measures in the future will be necessary. The most effective way to defeat the enemy is far from our shores.” He added: “If we are treed from past commitments and the necessity for lull conscription later arises, there will be no plebiscite, but the Government and Parliament will decide the issue.”