ENEMY SPOKESMAN’S ATTITUDE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 10, 7 October 1943, Page 5

ENEMY SPOKESMAN’S ATTITUDE

Reasons For Retreat (Received October 6, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 5. “It would be futile to overlook the Russian gains, but while the events are serious they arc merely a passing phase,” said tile spokesman of the German High Command, General Dietmar, broadcasting over Berlin radio after a lapse of several weeks. “It is true that the Russians , have made great advances in their methods and equipment in the past few years. This year they have mobilized vast masses of reserves. We must pay a tribute to the Russian command’s unfaltering determination, but we doubt whether its calculations have included a long-term strategy. It has such a superiority in masses that it can even afford to make mistakes. “We have chosen to abandon terrain at a small sacrifice since we did not wish to pay greater sacrifices in men and materials. But even our evacuation moves have their limits. Where the German High Command will set the limit I cannot predict, but the new line will take into account the future plans of our command. Shortened communications have been gained, aud the Russian terra j n —f tl j( o f rivers, marshes and mountains —offer? many advantageous defensive positions.

“Gained Necessary Delay.” “The scorched-earth policy, which we learnt in part from our enemies, will now operate against them as they advance at great cost over their own territory. We, on the other hand, had made such vast gains that we can now afford to manoeuvre in the vast terrain of the east nnd abandon what we think expedient. So far we have always mastered the inequality of numbers by an offensive, but every pause brings dangers. Successful defence means defence in depth, and defence in depth needs a shortened front to avoid encirclement. “In the east as well as in the south we have gained the necessary delay which is essential to give the German inventive genius time to equip our forces and for us to complete the mobilization not only« at the front but also at home.” The German overseas radio stated that the Russian High Command was at present regrouping for new attacks. However. the German armies were ready to repel any thrusts against their new defensive positions. The war on the eastern front had assumed a stationary character. but this did not mean the Russian attacks would stop.