The Dominion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1941. MORE EFFORT, MORE SACRIFICE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 6, 2 October 1941, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1941. MORE EFFORT, MORE SACRIFICE

Two matters of outstanding importance and interest were dealt with by Mr. Winston Churchill in his speech on Tuesday in the House of Commons. One was that of Britain’s military policy during the present period of Germany’s deep preoccupation in the struggle with Russia. The other was that of material aid to Russia, in the shape of raw materials as well as manufactured armaments and supplies.

For weeks past there has been much public agitation, and no little criticism, on account of the British Government’s apparent reluctance to undertake an offensive, or offensives, by land, partly to relieve pressure against the Soviets and partly to take direct advantage of the fact that the bulk of Germany’s army is engaged in the east. In addition it has been repeatedly suggested in responsible quarters that the Russo-German conflict has encouraged complacency and the .feeling- that there is no great need to maintain the high pressure of industrial activity. Such talk has a disquieting tendency. The Prime Minister’s reply to it is therefore timely and welcome, particulatly so as he spoke in plain terms, with equal emphasis on the unfavourable and the encouraging aspects of the situation. The question of taking advantage of Hitler’s preoccupation in Russia “had several times occurred to those responsible for the conduct of the war,” said Mr. Churchill. But having delivered this sarcastic thrust be explained—very frankly, considering the circumstances —why, up to the present, Britain had held her hand, save in the air. It is impossible to tell what Hitler.:intends to do, next, and until our forces are strong enough to carry out a given line of action regardless of what he may attempt, we must continue to be prudent. That, in brief paraphrase, is Mr. Churchill’s message, and he summed it up by stating that apart from a “very serious air shortage” Hitler still retains the initiative. We have not had the force to take it from him. He has the divisions, he has the weapons, and on. the mainland of Europe he has ample means of transportation. What is more, Mr. Churchill warned the House that if Hitler chose to stand on the defensive in the east it would be in his power to attempt simultaneously an offensive against Egypt, a move toward north-west Africa through Spain, and an attack on the British Isles. In referring to material aid for Russia, also the maintenance of Britain’s effort on her own behalf, the Prime Minister spoke not only to the British people, hut to the Empire, and the democracies as a whole. Winter would not remove pressure on Russia. . . Spring would see still heavier fighting in the East. . . . Extenyye and serious sacrifices would have to be made to enable the Soviet to remain indefinitely in the field as a first-class war-making power. . . . United States industrial effort would have to be greater than ever. These are points to be gravely pondered. The war, Mr. Churchill promises us, is developing in a manner which will test the strength and endurance of the Allies much further. We must be unsparing in our preparations. We must help ourselves more than ever—and help Russia as well. As a sturdy and heartening preface to this warning review Mr. Churchill revealed that'the Battle of the Atlantic is going steadily in our favour. His news that the tonnage losses for the summer quarter totalled only a third of the losses in the previous quarter (or less than 500,000 tons) will bring a wave of relief, as will the complementary announcement that the food situation in the United Kingdom is better today than in the autumn of 1940. But this particular situation, advantageous as it may be for the present at least, must not be permitted to promote the brand of optimism that induces slackness. If Mr. Churchill’s speech is to achieve the purpose so plainly intended for it, the tale of our better success at sea must serve simply to fortify democratic peoples everywhere and encourage th’em to harder, more intensive effort.