SPECULATIONS ABOUT AXIS ADVANCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13326, 1 May 1941, Page 5

SPECULATIONS ABOUT AXIS ADVANCE

(COPYRIGHT BY P.P.S. Mr Churchill who should be best informed about strategic dispositions of our enemies, himself emphasised in his last courageous and frank speech that it is difficult to predict where the next grand push of the Axis is to be expected. The most important and decisive battles in his view are those of the Atlantic and a possible invasion of Britain. He mentioned Turkey, Russia, Spain. Gibraltar, Far East. the. Spanish and French African possessions in Africa besides the present drive to Egypt. The writer compared views of various British, Australian, Russian and other commentators. All seem to place a special importance to some point but almost all agree with Mr Churchill that the invasion of England and the quantity of British ships sunk in the Atlantic are the two issues that really matter. Mr Churchill has made the two points an axiom and as such we must accept it. In these frank admissions of the terrific power of the German military machine, which can strike with co-operation of Italy and Japan at all the four points of the compass, is the essence of Churchill's greatness. We have been told that no matter what the successes of the Axis and how many more territories are overrun they will not undermine our morale. We shall take the blows squarely on our chins and carry on doggedly like the true bulldog breed in the firm conviction that so long as the Britain's rock stands supported by the tremendous industrial power of America, we must win in the long run. And God help the Hun with his allies when the wrath of the oppressed peoples of Europe bursts into a universal conflagration of red-eyed hatred. Ironic jibes are cast upon Britain's policy of a financial help to Spain which will eventually turn against Britain. And what if she will when Hitler strikes at Gibraltar? Is not the miserable, two-and-half millions of pounds worth a delay of a few weeks before Franco succumbs to Nazi pressure? Similarly the millions loaned to Turkey for military equipment were worth every penny for the anti-Axis stand Turkey held up to now. Whether Turkey will resist the Axis or whether she will be forced into some agreement with Germany granting a passage for Axis forces is less important than the time factor so precious to Britain.

The same story can be told of Rumania, Greece, China, etc. The critics of Britain's policy do not realise that Britain is spending in two days more on war than all the financial help to various countries mentioned put together. Britain, the champion of world democracy and civilisation, is mobilising her resources to support the weaker nations rallying round her, and in turn Britain is backed by the mobilisation, of American resources which, together, far outweigh the total resources of all Europe and Japan combined.

It is about time to remind a certain section of New Zealanders criticising America and British possessions for supplying Japan and other potential enemies with oil and certain other raw materials, that the time factor far outweighs the limited quantity going to potentially unfriendly countries. America has barred import of war-potentials to all aggressors. In the case of Japan she introduced embargoes and licensing system reducing trade to an absolute minimum. At this stage, and so long as Japan does not directly attack any British, Dutclr or American possession, both Britain's territories and America are wise not to play into Hitler's hands by giving Japan a pretext to an immediate participation in war. At the same time, the Australian official spokesman and Mr Churchill are warning us ■that an extension of war in the Pacific is more than probable. Therefore our policy and the action of every individual should be of careful watchfulness, always keeping in mind the all-important time-factor while arming day and night same as Japan does. Mr Churchill, for the scond time, made a reference to the possibility of a Nazi attack on the Soviet Ukraine granary and on the Soviet oilfields. This reference is not a mere guess and it qualifies the importance of the Soviet-Japan Neutrality Pact. Should the time-factor turn against Germany, Hitler would be forced to secure the Ukraine grain and the

Soviet oil-fields, in order to stand up against the gigantic resources and staying power of Britain and America. Hitler may yet make the Napoleonic mistake and have the Soviet goliath against him too. Britain and America would probably not make a mistake of accepting Hitler's "Deace" in exchange for a Nazi attack on Russia. And that would spell doom to the Axis