BENES BROADCASTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 February 1943, Page 3

BENES BROADCASTS

GERMAN RETREAT & DEFEAT PREDICTED VICIOUS NAZI REACTION. PERSECUTION OF CZECH INTELLECTUALS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 13. The Germans in Bohemia and Moravia are losing confidence and are making preparations in case they have to leave for Germany suddenly, according to a report reaching London from Prague. Some Germans have packed part of their belongings and are actively buying foreign currency. They have suddenly become more civil to the Czechs and try to ignore the population’s snubs. The Germans in Russia will soon be back on a line along the River Dvina and through the Pripet Marshes, on the pre-war Russian-Polish frontier, to the River Dniester, where they will probably suffer ultimate defeat, predicted the Czech President, Dr. Benes, in a broadcast to hie countrymen from the 8.8. C. Describing the latest Russian successes as the greatest and most farreaching victories of the war, Dr. Benes said, “This is the same psychological moment that tame ’on the German Army in spring and summer of 1918, when its last offensive against France had collapsed. The German Minister to a certain belligerent European country early this month openly admitted that Germany could not win, and that if the Russian offensives continued Germany’s defeat was inevitable.” The Berlin radio, referring to Dr. Benes’ broadcast, said that as a reprisal for this inflammatory speech several Czech intellectuals who are friends of Benes have been placed in a concentration camp. “If Benes continues to incite Czechs from his easy chair in England, a correspondingly larger number of intellectuals will be placed in concentration camps, besides, possibly severer measures,” the radio said. ENEMY ADMISSIONS. More significant admissions about the situation in Russia have been made by Axis commentators. Captain Sertorius, the German news agency’s military commentator, today for the first time admitted that the Russians have reached the rear of the Donetz Basin when he declared that the battle area is now west-south-west of the Donetz Basin and the fighting is increasingly bitter for certain key railway junctions. He continued: “The Russians have undoubtedly thrown in considerable reserves for an outflanking manoeuvre near Rostov. Extensive German action which has been taken to stem the manoeuvre is not yet fully effective. The Russians have also attacked in the northern area of the Donetz bend, where the German front has been shortened according to plan. We do

not know whether the Russians are carrying out an envelopment of Kharkov from both flanks, though fierce fighting continues. “There are indications of a Russian major offensive in the central sector." Herr Hans Fritsche, in a broadcast, warned the Germans that in the 13th week of the offensive the Russians’ driving power is undiminished and that “the Russian flood is threatening to overflow the dyke.” The Rome radio’s military commentator, Colonel Blasto, admitted that the Russians are completely superior in numbers and material. They were successfully imitating the German methods of 1941 and 1942, he stated. “Nobody in Germany today speaks of thinks of surrender,” said Dr. Goebbels in an article quoted by the Berlin radio yesterday. “We do not deny that we have suffered a reverse in the east,” he added. “The enemy has made it clear that we cannot succeed if we use only part of our strength. There is just time to do what is necessary. We are willing to follow the Fuehrer through thick and thin, no matte? what he decides. The* German nation awaits his call. The situation demands a bold and great plan.”