The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-19
Quarters Claim Feuhrel Seeks Relaxation in Liz.
 uOr After SetbackS
BRAIN OPERATION OUT SAYS VETERAN WRITER
IniOrmants Openly Admit Adolf Taking Champagne
 Very Moderately
BY JACK FLEISCHER United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
 Stockholm, March 10. = (UP) -- AGolf Hitler has relinquishcd active military command in Russia and now is personally directing to Germany's all-out suomarirle campaign, a consensus oi reports from reliable sources indicated today. Though he had been virtually 8 tee. totaler, several quarters here with connections in Germany said Hitler has sought relaxation in champagne following the Axis reverses in Russia and Tunisia and tho intensiflcatioD of the Anglo-American aerial ot- fensive against Europe.
 However, the informants said, ho is taking tho champagne moderate ly and there is TO truth 10 reporE that ho has become dipsomanlac-- one afflicted with c morbid and un' comfortable craving for alcohol.
 Since shortly before the Axis de. feat at Stalingrad Hitler has been subject to perhaps the greatest Of his periodic mental Impressions, but here, too, there Is no factual In. formation to support rumors that he has broken down completely or submitted to 8 brain operation.
 Informants said Hitler now is al. vIding his time between his moun- tain-top Bavarian home, Berchtes- garden, and his military headquaT- ters, usually stationed outside Koen- igsbcrg in East Prussia. He is re- ported to venture occasionally closer to the front, such as the vicinity Of KicV.
 While he has remained aloof from the public since the battle of Stal' ingrad, Hitler can be expected to speak again as soon as he has some outstanding success to boast Of, or at least when he no longer will feel called upon to apologize for such defeats as Rostov, Rzhev and Stal- ingrad.
 Since Hitler. especially since the start of the war, has been one of the worlds most heavily guarded and inaccessible men, 1t obviously is impossible to obtain fully ac- curate and detailed picture of hts recent activities.
 However, the following picture Of the events of recent months, drawn from diversified sources, including q person for whose reliability and first-hand current knowledge of in. side Germany this correspondent can Vouch, can be said to come "ciose to reality"
 (Fleischcr was q member of the former United Press Berlin staffD
 Sometime during the winter. as 8 result of pressure from Germany's old-line generals. Hitler turned over the post of commandcr-in-chief of the German army to Gen. Franz Halder, though retaining supreme command of the army and all other armed services and keeping Gen Kurt Zeitler as chief of stan.
 However, it is not definitely known hera whether Halder still remains in command. Hitler for time sought unnecessarily to persuade Field Marshal Fedon Won Book. whom ne had summarily relieved of command in Russia last year, to return to an active command.
 Field Marshal Walther Won Brauchitsch, former commander in chief of the German army. is be- lieved to be totally out of the plc- ture. despite recent reports to the contrary, as result of his poor health and heart trouble.
 Nevertheless, 1t is certain that the generals are running the slioW in Russia today. This correspondent
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