AXIS FEARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1942, Page 3

AXIS FEARS

OF BRITISH INVASION OF EUROPE THREAT OF JAPANESE ATTACK ON RUSSIA. VON RUNSTEDT TO COMMAND IN FRANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 16. The Berlin radio says that the Japanese military attaches - from all the European countries are to meet in Berlin tomorrow for talks with the German High Command. The announcer said that if the British created a second front by invading the Continent, this would be counteracted by an immediate Japanese attack on Russia. The Rome radio made a similar announcement. Field-Marshal von Rundstedt, former commander on the Ukraine front, has been appointed to the command of the German, forces in France, says the “Daily Mail’s” Stockholm correspondent . He is at present at Herr Hitler’s headquarters, and is expected to leave for Paris immediately. The appointment helps to emphasise Hitler’s anxiety to protect his rear against a possible British invasion.

The German troops in occupied France, the correspondent adds, number at least 20 divisions, or approximately 300,000 men. The “Mail’s” correspondent links up the appearance of a Hitlerite peace tout in Sweden with the Gej’man success in. Vichy as evidence of German misgivings for the success of the spring offensive against Russia, stressing that both activities are aimed at securing Hitler’s rear against the creation of a second front by Britain.

The peace envoy, the correspondent says, was a wealthy Cologne banker of Jewish extraction, who was probably chosen because he could be more easily disowned. His mission was to convey to Britain through the English officials in. Sweden that an Anglo-German peace was most desirable so that Hitler could deal with the .“common enemy, European Bolshevism.” The envoy also stressed the German concern at the successes of Japan. Needless to say, the mission failed, but the correspondent affirms that evidence is accumulating that the fear of a British landing is becoming a nightmare for some members of the German Staff, whose preoccupation with this is shown in story after story which has been coming uncensored from neutral correspondents in Berlin, where it seems to be taken for granted that the visit of General Marshall to London was concerned with the completion of the final details.