WEEKLY REVIEW OF WAR

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22921, 18 January 1940, Page 7

WEEKLY REVIEW OF WAR

"May Enter More Acute Phase" MR CHAMBERLAINS SPEECH (BRITISH OFFICTAIi WIBXM3S.) (Received January 17, 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, January 16. Reference to the renewed anxiety at the week-end about German designs against Belgium and the Netherlands and the natural wish for precautions by the two Governments was made in the House of Commons to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr Chamberlain) in his weekly review of the war. "We cannot but admire the calm and courageous attitude of the two Governments and of the Belgian and Dutch peoples," he said. "At the moment there is a lull in operations," he continued. "At any time that might be broken. Perhaps in a few weeks, .or even in a few hours, there may be events which will change the history of the world. We in this country hope, as do the people of every nation, that the just and lasting peace we are seeking will not be long delayed. "On the other hand it may well be that the war is about to enter upon a more acute phase. If that should prove to be the case we are ready for it, and in common with our Allies, we will spare no effort and no sacrifice that will be necessary to secure the victory on which we are determined."

Mr Chamberlain referred to the heroic and successful resistance of Finland and he intimated that arrangements had bsen made for the supply of certain war material from Britain, adding: "I can assure the House that the amounts involved are substantial." The Far East The situation in the Far East continued to be dominated by the Chinese-Japanese hostilities, and there was no warrant for optimism about an early settlement, said the Prime Minister. However, the British Government had welcomed the recent action by the Japanese Government in the direction of relaxing some of the restrictions which from time to time had caused difficulty and tension. He hoped that the Mediterranean area would long continue to be spared the suffering and horror of war.

Certain dislocations in normal life had been and would remain inevitable, but it was the British aim, while pursuing the war with all determination, to avoid, as far as was consistent with that object, injury to the interests of neutral Powers.

Speaking of " French-British cooperation, Mr Chamberlain said that in the field of supply the closest cooperation existed between the departments concerned in Britain and those of France. As a result of the financial agreement, the unity of action of.the two countries had.beer made complete, "Indeed," he declared, "it is our hope, as I have stated elsewhere, that the system' of collaboration which has been thus evolved may, in time, form the basis for closer relations in the economic and financial sphere among the nations of Europe and of the world, and so facilitate the work of peaceful reconstruction to which we look forward after the successful termination of the war." Theatres of War Turning to the several theatres of war, the Prime Minister said that patrolling and artillery fire had continued on the Western Front and the British troops in the Maginot Line sector had taken their full share of activities. During the last month, air activity had been hampered by short daylight and by fog and snowcovered landing grounds. The British air forces none the less had, been continuously in action, in particular over the whole battle area of the North Sea. Every week considerable British forces had flown to Heligoland Bight and approached to the Baltic in search of the German fleet as it might venture outto sea. Speaking of the Empire's war effort, Mr Chamberlain said that special forces in New Zealand, and Australia had now received intensive training, and would shortly take their places where they were needed most. In addition there was now no obstacle to the operation of the great Empire air training scheme in Canada. Newfoundland had recruited several hundred men for patrol duty. In India, he said, enlistments were higher than the number required. In spite of German propaganda the situation in India was calmer than for a number of years. The British and French Governments were giving further help to Turkish earthquake relief. In addition to money they were sending food, medical stores, and blankets.

BRITISH AIRMAN DECORATED LEADER OF HELIGOLAND RAID . LONDON, January 16. " The leader of the Boyai Air Force long distance flyers from., Cairo to Australia in 1938, Squadrgn Leader Hichard Kellett, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and promoted to Acting-Wing Commander. , "He displayed courage, coolness, and determination in leading his squadron and a combined formation of 24 aircraft in operations'over an enemy naval base in December, which resulted in the infliction of heavy casualties on enemy aircraft," it is stated- " Squadron Leader Kellett led the Heligoland raid on December 18.