LISTENINGS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 7, Issue 162, 31 July 1942, Page 9

LISTENINGS

(Pernpetrated and illustrated

by

KEN

ALEXANDER

ITLER is all of a dither about his special bogy, the Second Front. Every time he hears of Allied large-scale practice invasions he comes over all goosey. The Wee Dope Dokter also gets so heebyjeebylated that he gets his invasions and evasions all mixed. At one moment he pollutes the air with the statement that such a thing as an invasion is reediculous and ab-surd. Then he draws a breath and exhales the tidings that the German people must be prepared for an invasion. Such Goebbelisations speak louder than the truth. His first statement proves that the Nazis are so fearful that an invasion will materialise that they have to persuade the people that it won’t. His second statement proves that the Nazis are so afraid that an invasion will happen that they have to tell the people that it will. The sum adds up right from either end. Perhaps Allied admission of a possible invasion is nearly as effective as an actual invasion; and the Allies» are shrewd enough. to let Adolf know about their preparations and exercises, This keeps Adolf looking over his shoulder, and causes him to divert at least some of his strength from Russia-just in case. But he hasn’t yet withdrawn enough to make it much easier for the Russians. The time may come, perhaps sooner than later, when Adolf will wake up one morning to find that it isn’t the milkman. knocking, after all. Then he wiil have to do what he has always said will lese the war for Germany. In the meantime, he has to make it snappy in Russia in case he is suddenly obliged to make a quick "bout turn and face the lion and eagle. But Adolf likes pincers. Before he is done, he is going to meet a pair that will draw his teeth and

claws for keeps. Black cats may be lucky for some people, but bears, lions and eagles are definitely unlucky for Hitler.