DISUNITY SHOWN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 22 November 1939, Page 5

DISUNITY SHOWN

NAZIS AND ARMY

PUZZLE TO GERMANS LACK OF. ACTION DESIGNS OF SOVIET BALTIC AND BALKANS (Kluc. Tpl, Copyright—XTnitod Press Assn.) (RcccL Nov. 22, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 21. Telephoning from Amsterdam the former Berlin correspondent of the New York Herald-Tribune, Mr. Beech Conger, who left Germany voluntarily after, the authorities had refused him transmission facilities or access to press conferences, because he allegedly sent messages which did not please the Nazis, said that the lack of action on the Western Front was puzzling the Germans who dared not ask questions. Before he left Germany he was told that the German Commander-in-chief, General von Brauchitsch, had offered

his resignation but Herr Hitler refused to accept it.

"Tile army includes practical gentlemen who are considering all the possible contingencies, but the party officials seem sold on the idea of pressing forward to the announced destruction of- Uie British Empire,” said Mr. Conger. “Apparently it will be only a question of time before the army wins to a dominant position.’ The Washington correspondent of ihe New York Times says that diplomats believe that German uneasinessover the Soviet's designs in the Baltic and in the Balkans and her fears that Russia will take advantage of German involvement in the West to extend her influence over the Scandinavian nations, are factors deterring the Nazis in their Western drive. Finland Not Includes The original agreement between Russia and Germany did not include Finland in Russia’s zone of influence. The Soviet troop concentrations on llie former border of Czechoslovakia and Poland are unusually heavy. The Germans are worried over the possibility of a Russian attempt in the winter to dominate the Black Sea area. The military authorities believe that a drive to Bessarabia could best be accomplished when the rivers are frozen and the terrain hard, thus facilitating infantry movements. Germany, it is believed, is further from agreeing with Russia about zones of Balkan influence than at any time. The danger of driving Italy into the Allies’ camp is increasingly complicating the efforts. Diplomats indicate that Russia and Germany are negotiating with Japan independently.

The Zurich correspondent of the British United Press reports that Herr Fritz Thyssen, the German steel king, said in an interview: “As a member of the Reichstag I expressed opposition to the war and the present policy of the German Government. This threatened consequences which forced me to quit Germany.”