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The Antilla (4,400 tons) is reported to be ready to sail from Aruba. Eight men out of the Heidelberg (6,530 tons) and almost all the crew of the Troja (2,390 tons) have been transferred to the Antilla. It is rumoured that the Troja is to be scuttled.
The Santos (5,943 tons), which sailed from Rio on the 14th January, arrived. at Narvik on the 27th February.
Economic Warfare,
13. During the week ending the 24th February, 2,597 tons of cargo destined for Germany were seized in prize, of this, 1,639 tons were in Italian ships. The main items include 526 tons of base metal, 128 tons of fats, oils and waxes, 1,300 tons of food products, 339 tons of wood and cork. The combined British and French seizures now total 1,128,206 tons.
On the 27th February there were 27 neutral ships in the three Contraband Control Bases in the United Kingdom, of which 15 had been there for five days or less.
During January 758 ships were boarded while passing the British Contra- band Control Station at Gibraltar and 41 of them were detained. 249 tons of merchandise were seized in prize and 2,686 bags of mails destined for Germany were landed for examination.
Western Front.
MILITARY SITUATION.
14. With the improvement of weather conditions, German activity has increased to a considerable extent and a number of raids have been carried out. None of these has been on a larger scale than hitherto experienced, and all were repulsed.
Germany.
15. There is some evidence to suggest that movement of armoured units has taken place in two areas in Western Germany, viz., north of Wesel and south of Aachen, where a considerable concentration of armoured units is reported. No identifications are, however, available. It is possible that the number of existing armoured divisions has been reinforced by newly-formed divisions of the same type, recently arrived from Central Germany.
Relations between the Army and the Party.
as
16. New regulations have recently been issued for the granting of com- missions from the ranks. Commissions will be given for the duration of the war to suitable N.C.Os. of the Active Army. The question of permanent com- missions will be settled after the war, each officer's war record and the available vacancies being taken into consideration. An article commenting upon these new regulations from what is clearly the Party point of view described them A pronounced revolution" and "A National Socialist enactment of the greatest importance." While the existing Officers' Corps is given somewhat grudging recognition the whole tone of the article is one of barely concealed disparagement of officers, great stress being laid upon the drawbacks from which natural abilities have hitherto suffered when in competition with inherited advantages. This article cannot possibly commend itself to the Officer Corps, and indicates that the spirit of co-operation between the Army and the Party still leaves something to be desired.
Slovakia.
17. Prior to the dismemberment of Czecho-Slovakia far-reaching plans were drawn up for the extension of the railway system in Slovakia. These plans are being adhered to in a modified form by the present Slovak Republic, at any rate for west and east lines, i.e., from the Bohemian to the Ruthenian
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