WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 81, 22 July 1942, Page 6

WAR TOPICS

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DOUBTS OF VICTORY — + - NAZIS' SLOGANS UNEASINESS AND DISCONTENT Recent reports from Washington and London about the growing confidence of the United Nations and the marked progress made by the American arms drive have greatly impressed foreign diplomatic circles in Ankara and lend some credence to the continual stream of stories reaching here about the low morale of the German people, writes Derek Patmore in the 'Christian Science Monitor. Although these stories have to be received with caution, since the Nazis are quite equal to using such reports to put their opponents olf their guard, there is reason to sup-* pose that the German nation is no longer sure of victory. The latest slogan invented by Dr Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister, and published in all Nazi papers indicates the change of feeling. The slogan runs : "Victory and defeat lio in the hands of God. We are masters and kings of our honour." Order to Teachers German uneasiness is shown by a , neAV order issued by Gauleiter Wachter, chief of the Teachers Union in Germany. This order says: "Every teacher must try and print in the minds of students in every lesson and even in botany or singing classes that Ave must win the victory at any price. This must be done in such a convincing manner that students when they go home will also try and convince their parents of this fact." Growing uneasiness and discontent among German workers are also shown by a speech by Dr Wilhelm Frick, Minister of the Interior, made recently to Government workers. He said! "Every .single employee must direct his actions so that he can help for final victory. It is natural that the Fuehrer will interfere where he sees contrary actions. The Fuehrer must be in a position, to be able to act drastically when he finds actions dangerous for a final victory. But I can assure you that such steps will only be taken after most detailed examinations of cases and the Fuehrer himself lias seen that only very seldom does he find it necessary to use his new authority."

However, despite Dr Frick's assurances, labour conditions in Germany are becoming serious and this appears to have some confirmation in reports that the Nazi Government is now compelled to< mobilise child labour. Boys of 13 and 14 have been ordered to undertake farm work. Young Troops Seen Another report pointing in the same direction is that the Greeks have been astonisjied at the youth-, fulness of the new German troops sent there for occupying duties. Many of these 3 r oung Nazi soldiers are said to be only 15 or 16, or else tliey are men well over 45. These unsoldierlilte Nazi reinforcements have greatly encourage the oppressed Greeks. Meanwhile there ar& strong indications of a growing shortage of all materials through Germany itself. Travellers arriving here from Munich, Dresden and Hamburg as well as Berlin all say there is a food shortage in these towns. On May 9. the Berlin Bureau of the "Four-Year Plan" was forced to issue a decree ordering all citizens to give' up all iron and steel objects they may possess before May .'JI. Those who do not comply with the order are to be heavily lined. It is said here that in order to cheer up the German nation, Nazi authorities are encouraging new persecution o(' Jews, and throughout Nazi Europe new violent measures against Jews are being taken. In Eastern Slovakia IGQU Jews ':a : e hre'i expelled alter all their belongings had been confiscated. Most of tiicse- unfortunates are sent into a Jewish colony in Poland where conditions are known to be appal-";-g, and thousands are said to be s!; > v i '. g . In Cu>;a"ia all Jews between 21 : :M : ;v\' > been mobilised' for foreand all these workers ob- • car arm bands pointing ; •< «»• ' vvish origin. Jews are : /en to visit uny Bulgarian

[CANADIAN NAVY BATTLEDRESS FOUND SENSIBLE Battledress on the bridges of ships in the Royal Canadian Navy will soon be a common sight, naval authorities in Ottawa say, predicting the eclipse of gold braid on vessels at sea. Among the first to purchase - this near Army-like uniform was Lieut.Commander R. B. Stannard, of the Royal Navy, winner of the first Victoria Cross to -be presented in this war. In Halifax when the clothing order came through, Commander Stannard shucked his trim blues for the baggy, but warm, new battledress. The order was made public jin Ottawa on April 15. j He reports that the suits, identical in design with that used by the Army but dyed blue, are 'very sen-> sible and comfortable," and other officers back up this statement. However, they have to purchase the battledress themselves. The new uniform is for wear at sea only and will be official just for duration of tlie war. Ratings >and petty officers arc not permitted to> wear the. battledress.!

PLANETARIA GIVE BRITISH TRAINEES REALISTIC "BATTLE" The British are using planetaria, similar to the Hayden Planetarium in New York, for the train|ing of a new "maritime regiment" to man sea-going anti-aircraft guns and cannon. Full-sized Heinkels and other enemy planes are projected inside the diome by means of a film and the sound of aero engines, too. These planes swop and dive with terrific noise toward the student at the gunsight, looking very realistic in the: dim light. They can be projected anywhere in the dome so that planes comes swoojung from unexpected angles and the gunner has to act quickly and train his sights on the diving plane. Meanwhile, the trainer is shouting encouragement and keeping his eye on a spot of light on the scrcen where the sights have to converge to get the plane in a vulnerable spot. Afterwards, outside, they fire tracer bullets and live ammunition at moving targets.

NO PEACE TABLE PLACE FOR AXIS LEADERS Mayor Fiorello La Guarclia, of New York, declared in Ottawa that the United Nations "must let them (the Axis countries) know that we'll not be at any peace conference with Hitler or Mussolini or the Mikado," and that "there will be no peace conference until those three are executed or in captivity." He told a conference of Canadian and United States mayors that some of the mistakes that followed the last war would not be repeated. "We have got to do a job this time," lie said J amid applause. j SWEDISH RED CROSS TO FEED THE GREEKS An official spokesman said in Stockholm-recently that negotiations were proceeding through tlie Swedish Red Cross for relief of the starv-i ing Greek population. The Swedish Government, he said, luul declared itself ready to furnish sufficient Swedish tonnage for food shipments and the British, United States and Canadian Governments had declared their willingness to allow monthly shipments of 15,000 tons of wheat or Hour from Canada to Greece. IRAN BEGINS PURGE OF AXIS ABETTORS I j 1 The Iranian Government has be- | gun an intensive campaign to" purge ; the country of pro-Axis elements after expelling the Japanese Legation staff and deporting six prominent Iranian propagandists for the Axis. An official proclamation published in all newespapers warned that the harbouring of Axis subjects would draw severe penalties.

CANADIAN BADGE FOR HEROIC MALTA The Canadian Legion, British Empire Service League, has bestowed its highest expression of honour — the Gold Badge of the Canadian Legion—on the Isle of Malta in admiration of the bravery of its residents, who have withstood more than 2300 Axis air attacks since the war start-* ed. The Legion, representing 200,000 veterans in North America of the first World War, will send a scroll bearing the badge via England in a Royal Canadian Air Force bomber to the island in the Mediterranean.