The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, March 19th, 1941 NAVAL POSSIBILITIES

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1941, Page 4

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, March 19th, 1941 NAVAL POSSIBILITIES

The holiday nature of the United States warships’ visit to New Zealand waters is not the only aspect in whi.-h the cruise is being regarded in Britain. It is there considered to be a testimony that British possessions in the Pacific arc already under the virtual protection of the American Navy. It is hard, anyway, to see how Japan can regard the matter in any other light. New developments in the war are indicated by the latest turn of events. In the Balkans it will be no surprise any day to see hostilities spread. If, as reported, the Germans have been somewhat rebuffed by Yugoslavia, where the Army is said to be asserting itself in the interest of national independence, it is hardly to be expected that the Axis will let matters rest in this position. It is even reported that they are in process of increasing their forces in Bulgaria from a quarter of a million to more than three-quarters of a million men. There may be doubt as to what the Soviet would do, but none remains as to how Turkey will react to German aggression in the Balkan Peninsula. The Russians are said to have promised the Yugoslavs seme technical support in the event of their being embroiled, and there may be justification for the suggestion, because of the fact that the Bulgarians are now in the Axis camp, and the Yugoslavs would thus be the more disposed to look to the Soviet. However, the Germans will hesitate to attack the Greeks whilst they feel unequal to coping at the same time not only with the Turkish Ahmy, but also with a large and increasing British. Army. In view, meantime, of the Greeks’ success in face of a continued enemy offensive in Albania, the Balkan situation may be regarded without any misgiving. This also holds good of/the vital front which is Britain, where the people are fast approaching a point when they will regard the possibility of invasion witli complete equanimity. It is stated that even the night bombers are, now encountering a secret device —evidently of a radio operated character —which promises to keep them increasingly at bay. The advent of the United States, however, to the democratic front, has opened up the way to the fresh suggested. The Germans are believed to plan a U-boat campaign nea’‘ American shores as against the shipment of aims and war supplies, though this will not affect the transport of huge aeroplanes, the first of which has already departed on a flight to Britain. But it is quite conceivable that U-boat opposition ; will soon bring American war-1 ships into the convoys, and that, no sooner is an American warship made an object of attack than r the whole United States Fleet will come bodily into the war. A Jap- [ anese paper declares that if the j Americans use their own vessels

the Chinese, the will take hand. latest declaration of the Secretary that the United States Fleet is the strongest in the Pacific can be regarded as no mere boast, hut a direct hint to any Power which might be disposed to contest naval supremacy in Hie Pacific. Undoubtedly, the situation is nearing a stage when hostilities might suddenly involve many more millions of people in war. it certainly is nowhere the wish of the masses to be drawn in, but there is a distinction to be drawm between those countries whose involvement would be due to the will of a few, and those in which the masses will fight Joi’ their' own protection. This difference now denotes that the enemj has far less resources on which to draw than have the defenders of democracy. If viewed in the light of the American President’s historic declaration a few days ago. tlie forces now actuating, .possible belligerents are far more reassuring than when fear was rendering so many nations impotent.