BATTLE OF THE RUHR

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23976, 17 June 1943, Page 5

BATTLE OF THE RUHR

“GERMANY SHORT OF WAR MATERIAL” REPORTS ON EFFECTS OF BOMBING (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June J5. “There is an ever-mounting pile of solid evidence in London that the Allied air forces are striking far deeper into the vitals of the entire German war machine than most laymen conceive,’’ says the aviation correspondent of the ‘‘Daily Mail.” “The Battle of the Ruhr is unique in history, for there is no measure by which its hour by hour progress can be gauged. But in the long run certain definite results emerge, of which the greatest is the fact that whatever were the German plans for a summer campaign in Russia they had to be changed to meet the certainty of a decrease in the flow of munitions to the front. “Even if reasons of internal morale force Hitler to launch some form of attach on Russia, it is now certain that it will be considerably less formidable than was contemplated three months ago. Germany is so short of reserves that she has been sending war material direct from the factories to the battle areas. The destruction in the Ruhr is proceeding at such a pace that the results are becoming rapidly cumulative.” The Madrid correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says: "Germany has requisitioned 30 per cent, of the locomotives and rolling stock in France for the mass removal of machinery from the shattered Ruhr cities. The German High Command on the Western Front has just succeeded in building up rolling stock in France to what was deemed to be the minimum needed in the event of an invasion. The requisition order, therefore, was opposed, but German production experts warned Hitler that conditions in the Ruhr had reached such a state that all factories must be rushed to safer areas. The generals were overruled, but they were assured that the requisitioning was only temporary.” “Evacuation Panic” According to the Zurich correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency, three independent travellers who have returned from north-west Germany confirm that the entire district is disorganised. The evacuation panic has spread everywhere and special police squads are keeping order among the refugees. The mood of the population is indescribable. Workers have been warned that military courts will try those leaving the bombed towns. Train time-tables in the Ruhr have been temporarily cancelled and notices which have been posted at all stations advise that only emergency services will be running until further notice. Newspapers in Berlin confirm the seriousness of the situation in northwest Germany, The “Voelkischer Beobachter” says; “It has become extremely difficult any longer to endure the British bombing. The nerve strain has reached its limit, especially as civilians, unlike soldiers, have not an outlet through which to vent their rage. Unfortunately, those who lost their nerve after the first bombing spread the most absurd rumours about the effects of the British raids.” “The latest Royal Air Force raids have had a tremendous effect on German public opinion,” says the Zurich correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” “Extensive- evacuation of north-western towns is proceeding. Everywhere in Germany it is now realised that the Allied air forces are going to increase the fury of their attacks and that the devastation is bound to be terrific.” Propaganda Effort A report to “The Times” says that a striking new propaganda element has acen introduced in Germany. Generally described as “mobilisation of inlellectuals” its aim is to instruct the Hasses, particularly youths, and to prerent their infection by "disintegrating igitation” emanating from people who m their own initiative have managed .0 leave the most heavily bombed mo as of west and north-west Gernany. "Clearly,” says the report, “these ?arly leavers are largely responsible for the wave of frankness about the extent of damage caused by the bombngs in recent months.” Recent reports from the Stockholm correspondent of the "Daily Tele?raph” gave comprehensive reports of he damage done to Berlin. “Berlin’s IVest End looks more like a battleleld than a city,” he says. “In the imped iate vicinity of the Pragerplatz 57 jig houses have been completely wiped jut, so that Berliners have named the area “Sodom and Gomorrah.” Morale s so bad that they chose a factory in his area for the scene of the latest jep-talk in which speakers declared: Berlin workers, you are the Fuehrer’s Jride. In his thoughts the Fuehrer is always with you.’ An eye-witness said hat a voice in the back of the hall mmediately answered: ‘He ought to ae here now,’ at which there was aughtcr.” Discussing the tribulations of the jombed areas of west and north-west lormany, a reporter of the Berlin adio said; “Even soldiers from the eastern Front stand silent at the wlniows of trains traversing this devasated. region. Here the war is nearer o the civilian and grips him more •losely even than, the soldier in the ront line. One wishes it were posable to bring some German families iere for a day, even an hour. They vould then not be so concerned about heir five or six-roomed flats which hey do not wish to share with any>ody. Children here cannot attend chool because those schools which ire standing have been converted into emergency lodgings.” The editor-in-chief of the Nazi Party lews Agency has said; "It is time to iurge the party of all its doubters and owards. The Government and the >arty are not willing to tolerate critics my longer. Systematic grumbling is lecommg dangerous. Germany is no onger in a position to be lenient.” RAID CASUALTIES IN BRITAIN Rcc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 15. : It is officially stated that civilian . asualties from air raids in Britain ; ist month were 584 killed, or missing nd believed killed, and 700 injured 1 nd taken to hospital. j STRIKE IN QUEBEC SHIPYARDS i 7000 WORKERS INVOLVED I Rcc. 7 p.m.) QUEBEC. June 15. < Seven thousand shipyard workers ave voted to strike, closing three Que- 1 ec shipyards. i Union officials say that the com- 1 anies were notified last Friday that s vote had been taken demanding wage < djustments and closed shops. The'com- i anies were given 48 hours, but they 1 id not make any offer and maintained ilcnce, thereby giving the men a ;gal right to strike. . The Munitions Minister (Mr C, D. 1 iowc) said that the Government would , ike over the shipyards. , 1 Labour Party Treasurer.— An out- ' urst of cheering greeted the an- \ ouncement at the second day’s ses- i ion of the British Labour Party conerence that Mr Arthur Greenwood, 1.P., had been elected treasurer of re Labour Party with 1,253,000 votes gainst 926.000 for the Minister of iome Security (Mr Herbert Morri- ( jn). Mr Morrison, who now holds ] o office in the party, chose to stand « ir treasurer and withdrew his nom- 1 lation for the national executive, on t finch he now loses his seat.—London, 1 une 15. (