LONG-TERM CONVICTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1943, Page 4

LONG-TERM CONVICTS

■ — BEING DRAFTED INTO GERMAN ARMY INTENSIVE MANPOWER DRIVE MEN OF 49 CALLED UP. LADS OF 16 ACCEPTED AS VOLUNTEERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 14. An intensive drive is being brganised throughout Germany to glean every man capable of bearing arms for the front line, says “The Times”' correspondent on the German frontier. All men born betweeji 1894 and 1925 who are physically fit have been summoned to the colours, and volunteers in the class of 1926, which so far has not been called up, are being assiduously recruited. The Germans are scouring the prisons and penitentiaries for • volunteers, and prisoners serving upward of 12 years who are suitable for service on the Eastern Front are granted an immediate release and drafted into the Wehrmacht. The correspondent also refers to a manpower discussion between Hitler and the Rumanian leader, General Antonescu, at Berchtesgaden. Rumania has 22 divisions on the eastern front, which is about 500,000 men. The losses up to the end of 1942 were 300,000. Rumania so far has not made up the losses, and at the end of last yean Antonescu refused to send new troops to replace them. A provisional agreement was ultimately reached whereby the Rumanian divisions which had lost less than 25 per cent should be filled from the reserves for the last time, while divisions with losses greater than 25 per cent should be. fused, forming new divisions at full strength. The Vichy radio says that Germany is Offering a sum equivalent to £6 sterling to those French workers who stay in Germany after their first contract expires. The Germans describe the offer as an “equipment allowance.” The Soviet news agency says it is reported from Stockholm that 400,000 workers are being sent from Holland to Germany , in the next few weeks. Workers who refuse to go voluntarily may be sent forcibly under Dr. Seyss Inquart’s special order.