“EARLY RETALIATION”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 4

“EARLY RETALIATION”

NOT BY THE LUFTWAFFE. THREATENED BY GERMAN HIGH COMMAND. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, November 24. Telephone exchanges in Stockholm were unable to get a reply from Berlin, through which calls pass for nearly all countries in occupied Europe. Direct telegraphic communication with Berlin has also stopped. Most German short-wave transmitters have not operated since Monday night’s raid. The German news agency stated that the raids against Berlin were ft the gravest carried out against any German town. A German High Command communique, referring to last night’s raid, says: “This terror attack, carried out by strong forces, caused fresh heavy damage by fires in several districts. Extensive residential quarters and numerous public buildings, including welfare institutions, churches and cultural monuments were destroyed. Fighters and anti-aircraft batteries shot down 19 raiders, despite the difficult defence conditions.”

The German news agency stated:— “Early retaliation is promised against the British for the raids on Berlin — retaliation not with the Luftwaffe. The German military command regrets that things have gone so far, as a result of the behaviour of British terror raiders, that it can no longer close its ears to the call for retaliation. Retaliation will be hard, but it will be a fair punishment for all the misdeeds which the British have committed against the German civil population. The German Army is ready to execute retaliation immediately orders are given.”