SABOTAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 August 1941, Page 6

SABOTAGE

WORKERS’ WAR ON HITLER FAILURE TO CONSOLIDATE EUROPE. INCIDENTS GN CONTINENT. When Hitler launched his campaign against Russia he hoped to consolidate Europe. He hoped his battle-cry of “Culture versus Bolshevism” would turn his enemies into friends overnight. As usual he under-estimated the hatred which his regime has inspired. Men in occupied countries and in countries such as Rumania and Hungary, sold into slavery by their leaders, saw in the outbreak of this battle a heavensent opportunity to cause more effective damage to the German war machine than they had yet been able to achieve. In just one week news of sabotage has come in from the Balkans, the Baltic countries and the Netherlands. In each territory people are seizing their chance of crippling the colossus.

From Rumania under German protection comes the damaging admission of internal disorder, secret agents and mass executions. “Terrorist agents have already been arrested and attempts at acts of aggression have been suppressed. Five hundred Jewish Communists have been shot at Jassy for having fired on German soldiers. All further attempts at disturbing order will be mercilessly suppressed.” (Rumanian communique, June 30.) Five hundred people were ready to be sacrificed. How many more were in sympathy with these men? In Hungary, a signatory to the Three-Powers Pact and a fully-fledged member of the Axis, sabotage in war industries is reaching such serious proportions that the authorities can no longer conceal it. On June 27 Hungarian broadcasts are obliged to report explosions in military store houses and fires in an oil refinery, but the cause of these disasters is never explained. Greece, conquered by weight alone and then humiliated by being handed over to the Italians whom she had beaten, has made up her mind what to do. Every shell, every drop of fuel that does not reach the Germans brings the day of their final destruction nearer. Reports from Cairo on June 27 stated that Greek saboteurs had blown up five munitions ships in Piraeus, the port of Athens, and had set fire to oil installations in the harbour. By such deeds the Greeks show their determination that Hitler shall not win.

In Norway, Tcrboven, the German Commissioner, has passed stringent laws to prevent an uprising. Bergen and its neighbourhood were proclaimed forbidden zones. During the hours of curfew, from 9.0 a.m. to 5 a.m., no Norwegian may even part his curtains to look out of the window. Such extremes are a measure of Nazi fears. Holland has been a thorn in the Nazi side for more than a year, Soldiers stationed in Dutch territory have long been uneasy guests. Submarines commissioned and built in Dutch shipyards have met with mysterious accidents. Explosions at the Ammsfoort factory is Holland’s latest answer to Hitler. The “Vriji Nederand,” of June 27, tells a story of the destruction of many tons of bombs destined for the use of the Luftwaffe. Explosions that could be heard at a distance of six miles must have brought joy to the hearts of many Dutchmen.

Sabotage will go cn. The countries which Germany dominates are many —the territory which she polices is very large. Not even German efficiency can hope to avoid gaps in supervision when the whole of Europe is involved. Quislings, members of the Gestapo and paid agents are all fallible, open to bribes, apt to overlook essentials. The people Of conquered countries watch for those gaps and use them.