“COCK-EYED OPTIMISM”

Evening Star, Issue 24003, 30 September 1941, Page 11

“COCK-EYED OPTIMISM”

HITLER HOT YET WASHED-UP AMERICAN JOURNALIST'S WARNING i.T.A.) AUCKLAND, September 20. ‘‘There is a lot of, codk-eyfed optimism, not in Government circHes. but among the people, both in England and America. Yon hear on all sides that Hitler is all washed up and lias made a fatal mistake in llussia.” said Mr Vincent Sheoan, the noted American writer and correspondent, in a realistic review of the war situation on his arrival from America by the Honolulu Clipper to-day. Mr Slicoan, who has spent the greater part of the summer in England, is making a tour of the Pacific to Write a series of articles on Pacino defence for the ‘ Herald-Tri-bune ’ syndicate and American magazines.

“ I don’t think the lull is ven- good for the people from one point of view,” be said, referring to the situation in England. “It gives the people time to grouse about food and other things. There’s a lot in what an old lady said: ‘ There’s nothing like a good bombing to take yoUr mind off the war.’ ” In spite of the most determined efforts, the keenness of the fire watchers and air-raid wardens was bound to diminish, he said. It could bo a most boring task when there were no attacks. On the other hand, the lull was proving valuable "in overcoming the threatened coal shortage, in the clearance of damaged buildings, and the like. “ There has been no lull on the,Atlantia,” Mr Sheean said. The Navy was as busy as ever, although slightly helped by the United States measures. The ships taken off Atlantic convoys, however, were transferred elsewhere. The Navy was working at tremendous pressure, and neither ships nor men were quite as spruce as they were two years ago. The men got practically no leave. He had been to sea With the Navy and had found that they were wonderful people. The Royal Air Force, too, was making tremendous efforts. The misplaced optimism was perhaps even more unfortunate in America than in England, and made it more difficult for President Roosevelt to go ahead with his programme, Mr Sheean said. “ There will be some action by the American Navy within tile nest few weeks.” he continued. “ I don’t see how it can.be avoided, even if the Germans try their hardest to avoid it.” Mr Sheean will inspect the New Zealand defence services during his stay in the Dominion. He will leave after a brief stay for Australia, the Dutch East Indies, and Singapore.