STRATEGY PLANS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 36, 12 February 1943, Page 3

STRATEGY PLANS

CLAIMS OF PRIORITY

Victory In Europe And Then Defeat Of Japan British Official Wireless Rec. 2.30 p.m. * RUGBY, Feb. 11. "When you have half a dozen important theatres of war in various parts of the globe there is bound to be divergence of view, and problems have to be considered from many angles," Mr. Churchill .said when discussing Casablanca Conference strategy plans in his House of Commons speech. These divergencies, he said, were of emphasis and priority rather than principle. They could only' be removed by long association and consenting and instructed minds. They now knew exactly what they wished to do and there was nothing left except the working out of plans in detail and putting them into execution one after the other. Mr. Churchill reiterated his former statement that the war might end in Europe before Japan is defeated and his promise that in that event all the forces of the British Empire would be moved against Japan until unconditional surrender was secured. He said he had renewed that pledge at Casablanca and had offered to make it in any form that might be desired, but President Roosevelt had said the wordof Britain was quite enough for him. Britain was already pledged to go on to the end beside her Allies however grievous the cost, Mr. Churchill added, but he thought it necessary to give the House the opportunity of registering general assent to that obvious declaration. Members cheered when Mr. Churchill made this comment.

Guadalcanar Victory The Prime Minister congratulated the Americans on their victory on Guadalcanar and expressed admiration of the way the Australians and Americans had slaughtered the last invaders at Buna. Every endeavour would be made to keep Japan fully occupied so that she would exhaust and expend her material strength. The war in the Pacific, although being fought by comparatively small forces at the end of enormous distances, had already engaged a great part of the American resources employed overseas as well as those of Australia and New Zealand. The effort of holding- a dumbbell at arm's length was so exhausting to both sides, Mr. Churchill said, that it would be a mistake to try to judge the war by actual numbers which came in contact at particular points. It was a tremendous effort to fight four or five thousand miles across the ocean and it was the kind of effort that was most injurious to Japan.