DISAPPOINTMENT BUT NOT DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 12

DISAPPOINTMENT BUT NOT DISASTER

Wellington Looks At Events In Norway COCKNEY LIFTMAN GETS POSITION RIGHT (By Observer.) There was one general topic of talk in town yesterday, and it was not about the Democratic Labour Party nor the People’s Movement in local politics. It was*, of course, the unforeseeable news of the with'drawal of British troops from south of Trondheim. Here are some opinions I beard from the day’s acquaintances: Bits driver: It reads like another retreat from Mons. Tobacconist: People who come in here are all disappointed, of course. It’s a bad knock to our chances in Norway. Shop assistant: Can’t make it out. I though we were doing pretty well down there. It’ll take some explaining. Liftman: Goi'blimy, the way some folks talk you'd think Fritz’d won the ’ole bloomin’ war. Business .manager: Well, it’s a blow to Allied prestige at a time when success in Norway was needed to impress the neutrals, particularly one neutral. Militarily, it does not amount to a disaster.

If a thousand ordinary New Zealanders were canvasssed on the news to date I think one could not get a better cross-section of opinion than that deducible from the views of the five above quoted. The essence of public reaction, then, is roughly this: The Germans have scored well inside Norway. They have not won outright, and the northern blitzkrieg still has not come off. The Allies have lost caste among benevolent and malevolent neutrals alike. There may be a complete answer to ei'ities of the Allied tacticians, but an explanation is called for all the same.

I have held one opinion in reserve. It is not typical Ijecause it is not fairminded. As most, people mint to be fairminded they are typical. I heard this from a bouncing clerk in the mid twenties: “Bab I Those old coves on the War Council are the trouble. Why don’t they give the young chaps a chance ”

If (according to this reasoning) the British thrust to southern. Norway had issued in brilliant success, the War Council, age notwithstanding, would have been hailed its heaven-inspired geniuses. As tlie enterprise failed they are “old coves.” We may look at it this way : If a venturesome aviator crosses the Atlantic in some old crate he is the idol of the crowd and altogether a great- feller. If he flops into the sea be is a mug to have flown in a plane like that.

The War Council may have blundered through omission or commission; through excess of caution or rashness ; through failure to appreciate the strength of the enemy, or dalliance when promptitude might have saved the day.

But can they be arraigned on the explosive condemnation of our youthful critic iu the absence of evidence on which to base a prosecution? The' facts will come out in due season. British opinion will then decide whether a prosecution is desirable, and if the verdict shall be one of guilt or acquittal. Meantime, for my part, I like the opinion of the Cockney liftman, “Gorblimey, you’d thing Fritz’d won the 'ole bloomin’ war.”