A NEW WAR POLICY WANTED

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1942, Page 7

A NEW WAR POLICY WANTED

The fall of Singapore, coming as it does on top of recent Allied defeats such as the forced evacuation of Greece and Crete, the Pear] Harbour disaster, and the sinking of the British battleships off the Malayan coast, is causing much disquietude among the people of New: Zealand. The fact that the Allies are sorely pressed and retreating in Burma, Borneo and the Dutch East Indies, and barely hanging on in Libya and the Philippines, is adding to the people’s concern.

Attempts to bolster up the morale of the people bj B-B.C."broadcasts telling of the billions of dollars which are to be spent in America on military and naval personnel and supplies, and frequent repetitions of the imposing numbers of ships, tanks and ’planes- that will' produced in some two years’ time, is having little effect. People are beginning to realise that they have been fed on this— ‘Just wait until nineteen-forty-odd”—business ever since the war commenced, and they stil'l see no immediate prospect of the promisTcl offensive against the enemy. It was in the winter of 1941---, for instance, that Germany was to be blasted off the map by British bombers; that an invasion was to take place.

We were very confidently assured in 1940 that German oil and steel supplies would be' exhausted by the end of-1941 —and this before the Nazi attack on Russia! We were likewise informed thjit Japan would speedily be dealt with if she dared to come into the war, owing to her lack of essential war materials; that the Japs weke poor airmen, and their ’planes inferior; that British and American 1 acific naval bases were impregnable.

Is it any wonder that the people are now beginning to voice their doubts as to the ability of the present political and military leadership, despite the constant shuffling o PerS °" nel? ' > | Press criticisms alleging incompetence, inefficiency and lack- of activity on the part of oun leaders—both civil and military—is increasing public dissatisfaction with the mannei in which the war is being waged. The people are worried, and inclined to be despondent and cynical.

Action is needed—action indicating that the enemy is not the only one who possesses initiative, daring, and (lash. he policy of purely defensive action must end. H the Chinese and Russians can turn defence into attack, retreat into advance—why cannot we—if only just now and again, and jus here and there? The confidence of the people m a > to defeat the enemy must be restored Gut out the tu parent and futile propaganda of the L.B.C. brand. It 3 irritates the people.

Samuel Grafton, the famous Niew York columnist, says: “Hitler always acted as if he had an army, even when he had. not The British are acting as if they have not, even when they have.’’ (“Tribune,’’ Nov. 1941). This policy of timidity and retreat must be brought to a speedy end.

To maintain the moualc of the people until it is possible to undertake large-scale offensive operations., we must have a leadership which is prepared to wage “total” war.

Also, our leadership of the war effort can, with gical. advantage, be broadened. The workers should be utilised not onlv to produce, but to participate in the supervision and direction'of production—a task they are fully qualified to do.

Finally, the bitter lessons taught by the Malayan campaign must be well teamed.