GETTING STRONGER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 42, 29 November 1940, Page 5

GETTING STRONGER

THE POSITION OF BRITAIN,

GREATER EFFORTS NEEDED.

REVIEW BY AIR GREENWOOD

(United Press Association—. Copyright.) LONDON.,' November. 27.

During a statement On war production in the House of Commons, Mr Arthur Greenwood, Minister • 'without portfolio, referred to the effects of the recent enemy raids on industrial centres, and he reminded the House that Britain was still some way from being fully armed. Still greater efforts to increase the output would be necessary in preparation for taking the offensive. In the last 15 months the output of war equipment from British factories had been more than trebled, and in the case of some material, multiplied by four, said Mr Greenwood. Sinme May there had been some substantial increases in output. Shipbuilding had increased by more than 50 per cent. — an excellent foundation for further expansion. '

Coming to the effects of air raids, Mr Greenwood said: “It would be, folly to deny that damage has been done to production by enemy air attacks, but if the Germans’ boast of the weight of the bombs dropped on Britain are to be accepted as accurate, then by that measure I am entitled' to say that the effects on production have been surprisingly small. “At the beginning, the interruption to production during alerts seriously affected the output, but for some time the system of factory spotters and the determination of the workers to carry on have, substantially reduced the amount of interference occasioned by enemy air action. There remains, however, the loss resulting from actual damage or destruction to plant. I’ Mr Greenwood said that he must admit that recent enemy air attacks had retarded the progress and steady expansion of the output, of which he had given the House ample evidence. “I say that it has not eaten to any serious extent into our • productive capacity,” continued the Minister. “It has embarrassed us and we shall have more difficulties of this kind to face—but up to now the structure stands virtually intact, though temporarily dislocated.” - Thb Minister said that.lie had spent last week-end. In Coventry and Birmingham—“places which have felt the full force of Hitler’s aerial attacks on our industrial power.’’ Describing his impression of the factories which had been hit, he said that whilevhhfdke was .still rising from the ruins,active' steps were being taken to restart production.. _“I would not have believed that in so short a space of time an industrial recovery could have been so consistent,’-’ he added. Mr ‘ Greenwood spoke appreciatively of jbhe ever-increasing flow of orders from the United “States .■. * .■/T"

Shipping Position Worse.

Turning to: the shippillgrpositlbn, the Minister spoke gravely. He compared it with April, 1917, and said that though it was worse than it should be, it was not so bad as might be in view of Germany’s use of Channel ports as a new factor in her aerial attack.

Regarding rebuilding, he said that Britain had not built up to the programme she had laid down for herself, but she was not far from it. An enormous difference had been made by shipping captured or transferred. But the answer to the U-boat and bombing menace lay in counter measures on which the Admiralty and Air Ministry were working unremittingly. They would find a means to defeat the. menace. “If we do not our plight is going to become a very serious me indeed,” he declared. Mr Greenwood made the point that in spite of the sinking of valuable cargoes and ships the loss of war material in transit by Britain was quite unsubstantial. Summing up, he said that taking both home production and supplies from overseas of war material, theio was no shadow of doubt that Britain was growing stronger. If further efforts were called for it was equally true that further efforts were being made.

Finally, they were entitled to take encouragement from the reverse side of the picture the troubes of the enemy. The Royal Air Force attacks on industrial targets and targets of military importance in Germany, and the silent but inflexible pressure of the blockade, were undermining Herr Hitler’s striking power in spite of his years of deliberate planning and preparation for war and the reserves lie had accumulated with which to bring abogt the subjugation of Europe. The Royal Air Force would continue to intensify its attacks.on .German, industry and communications, which all the evidence suggested was destroying the powers of recuperation of the (German economic system.—British Official Wireless.