GREATER CRISIS THAN IN 1918

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 101, 23 January 1943, Page 5

GREATER CRISIS THAN IN 1918

Warning In Germany NAZIS LAUNCH HUGE LABOUR DRIVE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, January 21. In an appeal to the Germans to aid their troops in Russia in unity and seltsacrifice, the “Voelklscher Beobachter warns the nation to prepare for a military crisis greater than that of IJIS. A special correspondent of The Times” says that Herr Himmler has become Germany’s defence dictator. Herr Hitler has secretly appointed Himmler to the post of Reich Defence Commissioner, with immense powers to organize emergency defence measures. The appointment was made after two significant developments in the relations between Germany and her satellite Powers. They were the meeting, with negative results, between Hitler and General Antonescu, of Rumania, and a point-blank refusal by Admiral Horthy to supply more Hungarian troops. Horthy gave possible developments in the Balkans as the reason for his refusal.

Hitler has also launched a new labour drive of astonishing proportions, says the correspondent. *lt is clear that what Hitler now demands from Germany is identical with what was planned for a similar national emergency in 1918 by Walter Rathenau, known as the Rathenau plan. It consisted chiefly of substituting women for men in the factories, the shortening of the German battle line, and the converting of the Reich into a self-supporting fortress. “Panic” In Hungary. The Istanbul correspondent of the British United Press says that, according to reports from Budapest, the citv panicked on Tuesday after the issue of the Hungarian weekly communique admitting the Russian break-through on the sector of the Voronezh front held by the Hungarians. Another announcement cancelled all army leave. Many men will be unable to find their mauled retreating units. Three Hungarian divisions are reported to have been almost wiped out. “The wording of the German bulletins must cause anxiety even among the Italian people,” said the Rome radio commentator, Signor Ansaldo, known in Britain as “Woe, Woe, Ansaldo” from his frequent warnings. “For two months we have not been abie to see a pause in the Russian assaults, nor any sign of tiring. The Russian soldiers are showing exceptional fighting power and supreme courage. The whole world holds its breath. It is undeniable that the Russians have achieved important successes and that their forces are determined to beat us.” A report received by the American Office of War Information says the Italian Press has changed its attitude toward the British Eighth Army sweep across Libya. The “Giornale d Italia said the territory was no longer important. The big thing was to hold such African positions as were useful for further developments in the naval war. It added that Tunis was the key to the Axis position.