Give Germany Her Own Medicine

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 196, 15 May 1940, Page 11

Give Germany Her Own Medicine

Sir,—The events which have happened recently only serve to show more clearly than ever what a perilous position the Allies would have now been iu had tlie war commenced about a year earlier. There can be no doubt that Mr. Chamberlain saved the situation by gaining time for war preparations to be made. For this he deserves tlie thanks of every reasonable person iu the world. And in regard to the Trondheim expedition; it should not be forgotten that this was undertaken with the unanimous approval of the whole War Council, which includes the heads of the Allied Governments, navies, armies, and air forces. Mr. Chamberlain would be the last man 'to attempt to overrule the opinion of those who are expert in tlie a rts of war. The great pity is that a man of Mr. Chamberlain’s honesty and fine character should have had to deal with such unscrupulous scoundrels as those now leading the German people. When the Allies have won the war and peace terms are being arranged, his sound judgment and fairmindedness will be of great value to the British Cabinet. There can be no doubt that his wise businesslike leadership is largely responsible for the strong financial position of Britain at the commencement of the war.

I see that 'the Germans have commenced to bomb open towns in France, Belgium and Holland, and, of course, they carried out this policy in Poland and Norway. They have always been careful to see that all of their wars have been waged on the soil of other countries, leaving their own undamaged. I am sure that the only thing that will bring the German people to their right senses will be when their own country is bombed and devastated in the same manner. Surely it is unreasonable to allow them to carry on this policy without reprisal in kind? At the rate at which Germany is now losing aeroplanes it should soon be possible to quite safely give her a taste of her own medicine. Hitler's first big mistake was the invasion of Norway, in which adventure he lost a large part of his navy. The attack on Holland and Belgium is his biggest blunder, for in this campaign the Germans are compelled to assault, and keep on attacking strongly fortified positions which are supported by mucli more powerful air protection than they have yet encountered. Aud the time cannot be -far distant when the Allied air strength will greatly exceed that of Germany. Then the end of this war will be in sight. When the history of this war comes to be written I think it will be found that The Allies have not blundered so badly as some people think. Certainly they did underestimate the mean, dirty, barbarous tactics their enemy descended to, but there is one thing we may be sure of, namely, that any initial advantages which have been gained by such disgraceful means will before long be discounted, for I have never known wrong to triumph in the end.

It would seem that the only way to bring the German people to realize the cousetjueuces of war would be to treat them iu the same way as tliey have treated the countries they have overrun. It is just as well for us to remember that victory can only be attained by the greatest possible human effort, assisted by Providence,, as the right undoubtedly will be.' I think Britain has acted wisely in creating a national War Cabinet for the duration of the war, thus giving, all parties a direct responsibility in its conduct. I am sure that Mr. Churchill will prove a splendid war Prime Minister. Tlie sword and the umbrella will work well together. What a wonderful effect will the fact of British and Dutch fighting side by side in Holland have upon their relations in South Africa! And bow strikingly has tlie wisdom of that great statesman, General Smuts, been borne out! —I am, etc., G. F. MOORE. Bushy Park, May 13.