Churchill Speaks To Commons

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23739, 10 September 1942, Page 5

Churchill Speaks To Commons

ACCOUNT OF VISIT TO MOSCOW (8.0. W.) RUGBY, September 8. /hj In his review of the war in the House of Commons this ifternoon, Mr Churchill spoke of events since his last speech nine weeks ago. He gave an account of his conversations with the Russian leaders and emphasised the strength of the reconjtituted Bth Army. The Prime Minister said that the conclusions reached with M, Stalin must remain secret, but the Russian leaders were now confident that Britain and America would bring them help as aaickly as possible, without thought for the losses and sacrifice this would involve. The Russians had thought that Britain and America were not doing enough to help them, but they had failed to understand the difficulties of sea transport. He had xnade the Russians feel that they had not been abandoned; but deeds, not words, would prove that. Britain and the United States had agreed last July on their joint war policy, not only for Europe but for the whole world. He had gone to Russia armed with this agreement.

Mr Churchill described M. Stalin as • great rugged war-chief, of inexorable courage and will-power “As I Sew back to Cairo across the vast •naces I bore with me the conviction tot Britain, the United States and Ruwia had forged an alliance strong Sough to beat Hitler to the ground,” h* said "We will persevere until he £ nimished, and at least some of the he had wrought has been reP Mr d 'Churchill began his review of -vents of the last few months by say“We have taken into Malta a ttnvoy of supplies sufficient to ensure Ufa and resistance for a good many months. A powerful battle squadron, imported by three aircraft-carriers and an umbrella of Spitfires from other carriers, forced a way through the extraordinary dangers that beset the passage. The price paid was not excessive for the result obtained, for the effective action of Malta against enemy communications, with Libya and Egypt is essential to the whole strategic position in the Middle East. "The most remarkable feature of this fighting was the defeat by gunfire and aircraft from carriers of enemy shore-based aircraft, which were finable to inflict appreciable damage to the warships or supply ships.” Mr Churchill then announced the oiler of the free and unconditional transfer of the cruiser Shropshire to Australia to replace the Canberra. The offer had been most warmly received. Mr Churchill continued: “Since we were last together the tendencies • of the war have continued to move in our favour. Of the Russian front, I at this moment will say only that it is September 8. In other quarters the growing predominance of the Allies in air power is continuous. "From June onwards to the first week in September we discharged nearly double the bomb-load on Germany compared with the corresponding period of last year, and with much i precision, far larger proporfalling on built-up areas or hitting the actual targets. ,7 United States daylight bombing Is a new and increasingly important factor, There is no doubt* that in the accuracy., of high level aim and in mutually defensive power, new possibilities of air warfare are being openedup by our American comrades and their Flying Fortresses. Losses at Sea “Losses at sea,” said Mr Churchill, "are still very heavy, but July, August, and September so far are a definite improvement on preceding months. This Is due largely to the continued development and completion of the convoy system off the American coast. This improvement has been effected in spite of heavy losses in warlike operations such as Russia and Malta convoys. During these same months the ‘ line of new buildings of merchant ships of the United States definitely crossed and maintained itself on the graphs above the line of sinkings. “Even more important, our warfare on U-boats has been more successful than in any former period of the war. . In fact, very few days have passed Without one or more being sunk or damaged by ourselves or our Allies. One would expect the U-boats to suffer heavier losses because there are more about, but I cannot say that the sinkings of U-boats have nearly kept pace With new construction. "On the other hand, our heavy and successful bombing of German shipbuilding yards will have an increasing effect on the future output and assembly of U-boats. Indeed, the part aircraft are taking in anti-U-boat warweefc 8 increasing in importance every “We must regard the struggle at sea J® ‘he foundation of all the efforts of ii 8 V nited Nations. If we lose that, all else will be denied us, but there is no reason to suppose tnat we have not ■*}? *? eans °f victory in our hands provided the utmost in human power is • « e re and in the United States.” ■Mr Churchill said that the ruthless U*boat warfare had brought a new ally w the dawn of the fourth year of the War-Brazil. After referring to the agreement reached with the United States on rmure war plans, Mr Churchill said: Armed with this body of agreement oetween Britain and the United States nu invigorated by the goodwill of the nouse at a particularly dark, unhappy, ““anxious moment, I took advantage race ss to visit the Army in the fu^ as *- ant * M. Stalin in Moscow, those. journeys seemed necessary in the public interest, and I believe that achieved, although now liiou* • as they become apparent, purify S, ny trouble and expense inrred. Travelling always in a LiberaTai» i mber ’ was possible to reach an , uncommonly short time. Dnso said that the main pursee^M Hi? m ission to Russia was to 1 Stalm. He was accompanied to S° w by Mr Averell Harriman, Mr jjwweveit s personal representative, wifi! .^ our days in conference , fl,.? 1 Stalin and M. Molotov, sitting rhi.»su-ii s ' x hours daily,” said Mr ' witWfc 1 11- "We went into'everything dour the U * mos t thoroughness and can(l , Talks in Moscow { , he ,., sa me time the Chief of the • Genera I Staff and the ComArphlh r 'i l i l '9* lief ’ India (General Sir ferpnno Wavell), had further conMarck 6 ? Marshal Voroshilov and marshal Shaposhnikov. *iihio n * annot g ' ve the details of the reanwf discussed or the decisions Ru«ial!* I may however, that the or tkl nS not think that either we so have done enough Is nof to tak ? - the weight off them. This tei?i«/ Urp ? sln , g at all in view of the with m.«u n !l they are enduring Incroacfl!? fortitude. It is proof of the E? strength which M. Stalin has •istanoo* SI * a u that this Prodigious rein, hff *° whole Teutonic armies to accomplished for so long with •o great success. siani ™ as difficult to make the Rusfea ana mpre lenc * a *l the problems of taevnin and it was difficult Of lh<fl ain y the characteristics tries efforls of the various counlear?«Uc • sure that we made their and <!in^ ee confidence in our loyal aid „„ ace . re , resolve to came to their ' gar/ tr. q i'ii ck y as P oss *ble without reas oui° th ! sacrifice involved, so long contribution is towards victory, to nfLui 111 object of my visit was •o establish with M. Stalin the same

easy confidence and perfect openness which I achieved with President Roosevelt. I think that to a very considerable extent Russia is fortunate to have this great, rugged war chief as its head. He is a man of inexhaustible courage and will-power.” The Prime Minister said that M. Stalin also had a saving sense of humour, and a direct, blunt manner of speech. “He left the impression of deep, cool wisdom, and a complete absence of illusions of any kind,” said the Prime Minister. “I believe I made Him feel that we are good and faithful comrades in this war, but that is a matter which deeds, and not words, will prove. One thing which stands out in my mind is the inexorable and inflexible resolve of Russia to fight Hitlerism to the end until it is finally beaten down. “Hour of Retribution” ‘The Germans are now more hated in Europe (lian any race since human records began. The dark stream of blood of cold execution flows between the Germans and their fellow-men. When the hour of liberation strikes in Europe, as strike it will, it will also be the hour of retribution. “I wish most particularly to identify the British Government with Mr Roosevelt's recent warning that those guilty of the Nazi crimes will have to stand before tribunals in every land where their atrocities were committed in order that an indelible warning may be given future ages, and that successive generations of mankind may say, 'So will perish all who do the like again.’ , A 1 “I personally regard the Dieppe assault, to. which I gave my sanction, as an indispensable preliminary to fullscale operations,” said Mr Churchill. “I do not intend to give any information about those operations,” he continued. “I have only said as much as I have because the enemy may see by his daily reconnaissances of our ports many signs of movement that we are unable to conceal from his photography. He is also aware of the steady and rapid influx into this island of United States divisions and other troops. “What he does not know is how, when, and tvhere, and with what forces and in what fashion he will be smitten. On this point it is desirable that he be left to his own ruminations, unassisted by British or American advice or comment. “Military credit for the Dieppe raid goes to the Canadian troops, who formed five-sixths of the assault force, and to the Navy, who carried them all there and most of them back. “The . raid must be considered a reconnaissance in force. It was a hard and savage clash such as is likely to become increasingly numerous as the war deepens. We had to get the information necessary before launching operations on a much larger scale, and this raid, apart from information of value, brought about an extremely satisfactory air battle in the west which the Fighter Command wish they could repeat every week. It inflicted perhaps as much loss on the enemy in killed and wounded as we suffered ourselves.” Military Decisions Referring to the London staff conferences, Mr Churchill said: “Continuous efforts are being made by ourselves and our Allies to unify and concert the command and action of the United Nations, particularly their leading members. These efforts have been made in spite of difficulties of geography. During July, President Roosevelt sent a most important mission to this country. No announcement was made at the time. The mission comprised General George Marshall, head of the United States Army; Admiral E, J. King, head of the United States Navy; and Mr Harry Hopkins. In numerous conferences they met not only the British chiefs of staff, but. members of the War Cabinet and the Defence Committee, which is a somewhat smaller grouping of the War Cabinet. “During 10 days the whole field of the war was explored, and every possible problem of importance scrutinised and weighed. “Decisions of importance were taken affecting the whole future of the general conduct of our operations, not only in Europe, but throughout the world. These decisions were in accordance with the wishes of Mr Roosevelt, and they received his final approval. “Thus, by the end of July, complete agreement on war policy and war plans had been reached between Great Britain and the United States. This agreement covers the whole field of war in every part of the world, and it also deals with the necessary productive and administrative measures required to enforce the combined policy and strategy agreed on.”

RECENT MILITARY DECISIONS

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM t WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, Sept. 8. The White House to-day announced that Mr Harry Hopkins, the United States Chief of Staff (General George Marshall), and the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet (Admiral E. J. King) held a 10 days’ important meeting in London in July with Mr Churchill and British war chiefs. “At these conferences the conduct of the war was canvassed, and, with the approval of President Roosevelt, necessary decisions regarding military, operations were made,” says the statement. The United Press of Arperica says that the circumstances of the conferences indicate the early opening of a second front.