SOMBRE GERMANS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 239, 6 July 1944, Page 5

SOMBRE GERMANS

Possibility Of Defeat Confessed OFFICIAL PICTURE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 4. German military commentators are taking a gloomy view of the war, and the possibility of complete defeat is not being concealed from the German people. A German radio spokesman said last night: “We now have to face the tpiestion, ‘Shall survive or not?' ' "The British and Americans have accomplished the first stage of their offensive on the Continent. In Normandy an uncanny battle is being fought. Attack follows attack. Artillery hammers at our positions with unprecedented fury. Naval guns add their weight. "The Soviet offensive is gathering speed, and the fighting there has reached a pitch of ferocity not witnessed before. "The German soldier in the cast is faced with inhuman tasks —he is battling against a numerically superior foe who is equipped with modern weapons. “In Italy the enemy is continuing his. progress.” The military commentator of the German news agency, Major von Ilallensleben, said today: “The German .people must not lose sight of the fact, that the recent British, American and Soviet successes have cost us valuable positions in our defence. They have meant that the German High Command has lost its freedom of action.” The news agency quoted a High Command spokesman as saying: “The Soviet advance on the central sector is sweeping on at such a high speed that considerable German forces have suddenly found themselves in the rear of the Soviet lines. Some of these battle groups are trying to light their way back to the German lines. “The Soviet vanguards at some points are already nearly 41) miles north-west or west of Minsk, Slutsk, Polotsk and Molodechna. “The eastern front is now the German High Command’s main preoccupation.” Town Claimed Retaken. The evacuation of Polotsk after very heavy street fighting is admitted by the German news agency, which adds: "Soviet assault forces are now attacking the new German lines north-west and west of the town. The Russians captured Minsk after the withdrawal of the garrison. The Germans east of Minsk also succeeded in escaping from the Soviet encirclement operations. The Germans have recaptured StolpSe (30 miles northwest of Baranowicze).” 'Tim German news agency’s commentator, Major von Hammer, said the Russians in the next few days are expected to attack northward from the Kovel area, south-west of the Pripet Marshes. A Finnish communique states that the Russians yesterday, supported by artillery, planes and tanks, started a new general offensive in the Kalisahni area. "Violent fighting went on, in which, the Russians penetrated our strongpoints, but were thrown back. Our lines were completely restored by nightfall.” Moscow states that the Russians northwest and north of Petrozavodsk continued their advance and captured another 10 places.