GERMAN OFFENSIVE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 111, 17 January 1940, Page 3

GERMAN OFFENSIVE

WHY IS IT DELAYED? There is a good deal of speculation as to the reasons Avhy Germany has not taken the offensive on a big scale, wrote the diplomatic correspondent of the Manchester Guardian recently. Some observers believe that difficulties have arisen,, in Germany itself, but there is no evidence of such difficulties. The food shortage is not so severe as to affect the spirit of the civilian population. The country as a whole would seem to be as .nuch behind Hitler as ever. There is no reason to believe that any serious differences have arisen between the German military and political leaders. It is possible—indeed likely—that, there have been differences within the National Socialist Party, but there is no evidence that there have been any that were calculated to weaken Germany in the prosecution of the Avar. It seems that Hitler and Ribbentrop adhere to their original opinion that the international situation wili develop in their favour. They believe —rightly or Avrongly—that it will be possible for Germany to secure the help of Italy and Japan in the coming year. They also believe that it Avill be possible to counteract the economic pressure of the Allied PoAvers by creating a ring of compliant "neutral'* States round Germany. With regard to Russia, it is probable that they do not expect any armed help from her, but they do believe tlhat in course of time and with the help of German managers and technicians Russian industry can be so reorganised that there will be an exportable surplus (though not perhaps a A r ery big one) for Germany. Nor have Hitler and Ribbentrop abandoned, all hope of coming to terms AA r ith the Western PoAvers. The belief that France "does not Avant to light" that she is at variance AA'ith Great Britain, and that she could be prevailed upon to make a separate peace persists in Germany. Generally speaking, it Avould seem that Germany does not expect the Avar, if it goes on, to reach its climax before the spring at the earliest. At the same time she is ready to take the offensiA'e at any moment J in case of need. She does not be that time is on the side of th; Western Poavcis.