TWO-FRONT WAR

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 181, 2 August 1941, Page 7

TWO-FRONT WAR

Press Criticism Of British Leaders ALL AID FOR RUSSIA LONDON, July 31. Military observers in Britain, commenting on Mr. Churchill's warning that an attempt at invasion of Britain might come at any moment, argue that the surest way of dealing with the invasion plan is to send every ounce of aid possible to Russia and so create a two-front war. Why, the observers ask, should Britain lull herself into complacency with the belief that the R.A.F. can smash or even seriously impair Germany's war industry within a few weeks, when the German air force could not smash Britain's industries in nearly a year? The secret of the excellent performance of the Red Army is that they simply refuse to play the game as laid down by the Nazi war lords, says Mr. Frank Owen, editor of the "Evening Standard," in an article criticising the British leaders who underrated Soviet military power, and who have delayed active assistance for Russia. Mr. Owen says that when the panzer forces break through -the Russians behave like a self-sealing aeroplane tank—they close up and absorb the bullet. "The truth is plain enough," says Mr. Owen. "For 20 years the Russians have devoted 25 per cent of all their wealth to the army. For 20 years they have rehearsed defence against an attack from just the quarter whence it came. Finally, the Russians have taught their people total war, while Hitler has merely- taught his barbarians total destruction. • "The physical development of the Soviet was there for everyone to see. Did nobody from official Britain see this, and recognise what it was? If someone had. surely we should not be now gaping at the Russian effort: we should be throwing in every ounce of aid we could give this magnificent ally."