GERMANY’S PLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1940, Page 5

GERMANY’S PLIGHT

ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES SERIOUS POSSIBILITY OF WESTWARD DRIVE HOLLAND WELL PREPARED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. AMSTERDAM. April 11. The “Telegraar’s” Berlin correspondent. chiiiniri<>' to relied (lermai) diplomatic views, expresses the opinion that the (lernia ns are likely Io make I'iirther drives in oilier directions. probably westward. They cannot afford to sit still because their from now extends over 600 miles and can easily be attacked.

The efficacy of the Allied blockades is the real reason for Germany's invasion of Scandinavia. The Polish campaign used up vast quantities of material and the hard winter and the transport crisis hampered economic activity. The commercial treaty between Russia and Germany has not yielded the expected benefits, the Allied policy in the Balkans preventing Germany obtaining sufficient supplies there. Moreover, an exceptionally poor harvest is expected- in Germany and the whole of south-eastern Europe. In short, Germany’s economic position is parlous. The general feeling in Holland is that events have increased the direct danger to Holland, but the Dutch are confident and well prepared. German soldiers have begun to close the few frontier barricades left open and have erected tank barricades.

BRITISH DIPLOMATS ALLEGED CAPTURE IN NORWAY. STORY WITHOUT FOUNDATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 10. In a broadcast from Zeesen to America this evening by the American commentators, Messrs. Jordan and Russell Hill, it was stated, apparently as the result of the Wilhelmstrasse Press conference on Wednesday morning, that the British diplomatic representatives in Oslo had been captured by the Germans -and would probably be interned. Authoritative quarters in London state that this story is without foundation, and it is pointed out that Sir Cecil Dormer, the British Minister to Norway, and his staff moved to Hamar with the Norwegian Government and had been in communication with the British Government till Wednesday afternoon, when they moved from Hamar in accordance with the second move made by the Norwegian Government. SOVIET VIEW OCCUPATION OF DENMARK AND NORWAY. "NECESSARY CONSEQUENCE.” LONDON, April 11. An important announcement promised by Moscow radio turns out to be a statement appearing in “Izvestia'’ declaring that the Gorman occupation of Denmark anod Norway was a “necessary consequence” of the Allies' violation of Norway's neutrality.

AIR PATROL OVER GREENLAND AND ICELAND. PROPOSED IN CANADA. OTTAWA. April 11. Members of the Government are discussing the possibility of a Canadian air patrol over Greenland and Iceland, using meteorological, bases on Hudson Strait.