SERIOUS INTERNAL DISSENSION IN GERMANY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1939, Page 5

SERIOUS INTERNAL DISSENSION IN GERMANY

Between Hitler and Army Authorities SIGNIFICANCE OF POSTPONED OFFENSIVE REPORTED QUARRELLING BETWEEN LEADERS (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON November 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, has 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 “Daily Herald’s’’ Amsterdam correspondent says diplomatic circles believe Herr Hitler’s indecision arises from the knowledge that even a slight setback would lead to the Army seizing power. Nazi leaders are quarrelling over the results of the Russian alliance. Herr von Ribbentrop is receiving a number of anonymous letters, threatening his life because he sold Germany to M. Stalin. “Le Matin’s” correspondent on the Swiss frontier reports that General von Blomberg was shot after the discovery of a plot to overthrow Herr Hitler. The correspondent adds that about 150 officers were arrested. 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’s discontent. The impression is growing that the General Staff has demanded postponement of an. offensive because it is considered that Germany is at present, incapable of coping with the material conditions necessary for large scale operations, and this has influenced the Army’s decisions. The “Petit Parisiene,” which claims to have most reliable information, goes so far as to say that the Nazi edifice shows signs of cracking. German generals know that General von Fritsch sacrificed himself in Poland because of despair that Herr Hitler had dragged the Reich into catastrophe. Marshal Goering and Herr Himmler are annoyed at Herr von Ribbentrop’s ascendancy and are reported to have conveyed to Herr Hitler unedifying information concerning the people surrounding Herr von Ribbertop. Marshal Goering has not escaped Herr Hitler’s criticism and recently he was told he was incompetent to appeal for national sacrifices in a contemplated speech which Herr Hitler forbade.