HITLER AND ARMY AUTHORITIES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20098, 18 November 1939, Page 5

HITLER AND ARMY AUTHORITIES

FUEHRER FEARS SEIZURE OF POWER RIFT OVER RESULT OF SOVIET ALLIANCE RIBBENTROP ASCENDANCY RESENTED (Elcc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 18, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. The flood of stories from Germany of serious internal dissension in the Nazi Party and grave difficulties between Herr Hitler and the army authorities have reached such proportions that they can no longer be ignored. They must, however, be accepted with a certain reserve, because it is indisputable that the Nazis command enormous support, but widely different sources provide reliable evidence that there are not only military reasons behind Germany's hesitation to launch a major offensive. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Herald says that diplomatic circles believe llvvv Hitler's indecision arises from the knowledge that even a slight setback would lead to the army seizing power. The Nazi leaders arc quarrelling over the results of the Russian alliance. The Nazi Foreign Minister, Herr von .Ribbentrop, is receiving a number ot anonymous letters threatening his life, because he sold Germany to M. Stalin. Paris messages quote ,the correspondent on the Swiss frontier of the journal Le Matin who reports that General von Plomberg, formerly Commander-in-Chief of the German forces, was shot after the discovery of a plot to overthrow Herr Hitler. The correspondent adds that about 150 officers were arrested. Great Offensive Opposed "It is reported that the German High Command and Admiralty are strenuously opposed to a great offensive and are urging a limited attack in order to allay the public discontent." continues Le Matin's correspondent, "The impression is growing that the German General Staff demanded the postponement of an offensive because they considered Germany in at present incapable of coping with the material conditions necessary for large-scale operations, and this influenced the army's decisions." ' The Petit Parisien, which claims to have most reliable information, goes so far as to say that the Nazi edifice shows signs of crackling. "The German generals know that General von Fritsch sacrificed himself in Poland, because of despair that Herr Hitler had dragged the Reich into a catastrophe," states the Petit Parisien. "Field Marshal Goering and Herr Himmler are annoyed at Herr von Ribbentrop's ascendance and are reported to have conveyed to Herr Hitler unedifying information concerning the people surrounding Herr von Ribbentrop. General Goering has not escaped Herr Hitler's criticism and recently he was told that he was incompetent to appeal for national sacrifices in a contemplated speech which Herr Hitler forbade."