NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

When a member of the Opposition urged that, the railway line which would connect Nelson with the line at luangaliua should be completed, the Minister of Railways replied that only part of the gap had been surveyed and that the job would take some considerable time. It seems to have occupied an inordinate length of time already. In November, .1937, the then member for Motueka urged the completion of this line and the Minister replied that “the survey party referred to has not yet completed its investigations” and that a decision must be deferred until that work had been finished. Seven years later the survey apparently still awaits completicm, so that progress Ims not been exactly marked.

An illustration of how an immense effort, unsurpassed in the long annals of war, can be indicated in a brief message was afforded by one published yesterday relating to tlie movements of men, vehicles and supplies across the Channel in the first 109 days of the invasion. Ini 'that time an average of nearly 25,000 men reached the French shores each day, together witli over 4500 vehicles and over 155,000 tons of munitions mid supplies. That would have been an immense undertaking had there been suitable harbour facilities, but for the most; part, open beaches had to be used, with little, if any, machinery for lifting heavy loads. The greater part must have been done by manpower, and frequently in very unsuitable weather conditions. No doubt, once Cherbourg had been captured and the port cleared the position rapidly improved, but even* so the delivery of men and materials on this vast scale was a wonderful triumph of organization. Moreover, it was only one phase. As the invading forces advanced all reinforcements, munitions and supplies had to be carried forward’ At one stage the lines of communication were very long, and how General Patton’s mechanized forces were supplied during their lightning advance toward Paris remains a mystery. The work still goes on. Daily about 1,000,000 gallons of petrol are delivered. When Calais can be fully used that will ease.the strain and the clearing of the mouth of the Schelde would be of invaluable assistance, for then Antwerp would become an advanced base. It is an amazing record, in the face of enormous difficulties—2,soo,ooo troops, 500.000 vehicles, and 17,000,000 tons of munitions anti supplies landed iu 109 days.