HITLER’S HOPE FOR 1941 DASHED

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 43, 14 November 1941, Page 7

HITLER’S HOPE FOR 1941 DASHED

Starvation Of Britain

WHAT RUDOLF HESS REVEALED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 12. Referring to the remarkable reduction in Britain’s shipping losses and the resultant satisfactory position of the nation’s food situation in his speech in the House of Commons today, the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, said: “In various remarks that the Nazi DeputyFuehrer, Rudolf Hess, has let fall from time to time during his sojourn in our • midst, nothing has been more clear than that Hitler relied upon starvation attack even more than upon invasion to bring us to our knees. His hopes were centred upon our starvation, as his boasts have made the world aware. “As far as 1941 is concerned those hopes at least have been dashed to the ground but this only increases his need to come at us by direct invasion as soon as he can screw up his courage and make arrangements to take the plunge. We must have everything working forward for the improved weather of the spring so that we shall be well prepared to meet any scale of attack that can be directed upon us.”

Though the country was infinitely stronger than six or 12 months ago the enemy had had ample time for preparation. aud if an attack were attempted, Mr. Churchill said, it was certain to be based upon a plan that had been thought out in every detail and with customary ruthlessness and thoroughness. There was no doubt that the diet of the people had been severely curtailed but it -was still sufficient to ensure physical health. As a precautionary measure stocks necessary for proper, diet had been amassed and amounted to double the stocks in the country at the outbreak of the war. In the short space of two years the area under crops had been increased by no less than 45 per cent, and the corn harvest was 50 per cent, greater than in 1939.

“Despite all the difficulties we must go on and produce still more, not only because of the ever present menace to our importations from abroad but also because it is possible as war develops that our miltary operations may make much more extensive demands on our shipping than it is now possible to meet,” Mr. Churchill said.