WINTER CAMPAIGN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1943, Page 3

WINTER CAMPAIGN

ENEMY ANTICIPATIONS NEW LINE IN PROPAGANDA. PROMISE OF OFFENSIVE ACTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, September 27. The German controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau, quoting a message from Berlin, • said: “In a sensational German declaration contradicting previous statements from the same quarters, it is stated that heavy rains will not prevent large-scale operations on the Eastern front. The Russians and Germans have new tanks and cars capable of moving through even the worst morasses.” The German news agency’s military commentator, explaining the German retreat, says that the German High Command aimed at concentrating all its forces for the next winter campaign and directed all its operations to this end. Earlier, the German propaganda machine had switched to the line that the great retreat in Russia had ended, except at a few points, and claimed that the withdrawals were timed to reach defensive points on the Dnieper before rain and mud bogged down heavy transport The Germans admitted that the Russians crossed the Dnieper at a few points, but claimed they were liquidated, while the Nazis were still holding on to bridge-heads east of the river. The Oslo radio states that Berlin newspapers are assuring their readers that “the present disengaging movement is only of a temporary nature. At the right time defensive tactics will be succeeded by a strong offensive, in which German tanks and infantry will again storm forward on a wide front.