The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, February 26, 1942. FAITH IN THE FIGHT

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1942, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, February 26, 1942. FAITH IN THE FIGHT

The most realistic, and incidentally the most grave, account of the war situation which the leaders of the British and the Americans yet have given, is contained in their latest statements. The occasion of this greater candour is mainly the impact of Japan. It is an hour for speaking plainly, and Mr. Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt do not hesitate to say that victory depends upon character far more than upon calculation. In fact, the spirit to which they both appeal is that of faith. The enlargement of the struggle, while it has brought in this quarter of the globe a danger hitherto unprecedented, does not, in their estimation, lessen the prospects of victory for their cause, but rather renders victory a greater certainty. They base their confidence not only on the material resources of the United Nations, but also on the history of those nations, and their proven ability to surmount adversity. Indeed, the American President and the British Prime Minister are in very unenviable, because terribly responsible; positions themselves, but they openly avow their determination to face any criticism for the reason that they have acted in the utmost honesty, and are confident that the decisions which they have taken not only are for the best, but will in due time demonstrate this by their results. It cannot, be forgotten that there is a political as well as a military side to the war, and that the political leadership is as much responsible for Allied morale as the military leadership is for undoing enemy morale. Mr. Churchill is emphatic that the Allied military, economic and political situation lias vastly improved, alike in the past few months and in the last two years.

He is better able than any ordinary individual to assess the ultimate effects of Russia’s retaliation against Germany and America’s reaction against Japan. The only forecast, however, to which Mr. Churchill or Mr. Roosevelt will commit himself is that when the decision in the war is finally reached, it is the Allies who will impose and the Axis who will obey the terms of peace. 'Phis' faith and are particularly welcome now in Australia and New Zealand, for the enemy displays the authentic evidence of his intention to make a direct attack on the mainland of Australia. As Dr. Evatt, the Commonwealth Minister of External Affairs last night declared, Australians must now defend their own shores -nnd in so doing defend New Zealand also. Our mission to- Australia is now engaged precisely with This ■ latest development, which is equally as vital for this country as for the other, because a failure successfully to defend Australia would inevitably mean the sharing of its fate by ourselves. Nor cao it. yet be said that Japan’s threat is limited in any direction. Java is awating a blitz, while Burma is gradually being overrun, and the enemy even prates of his intention to carry the war into India. Mr. Roosevelt acknowledges that. America’s present, strategy is essentially that of a delaying action, whilst Britain is more or less preoccupied with the Middle East, including India, and her own defence as well as the all important factor of sea and air warfare. Where we may repose hope is in the fact that Britain especially looks for success to the mastery of the sea,- so that it is intended finally to roll back the Japanese by precisely the same naval means as they have been able to utilise in gaining their initial advantage. Isolated, therefore, though New Zealand and Australia now may appear, the knowledge that the Allies inevitably will assert their will on the seas is a lode star for our fortitude. \ ■«„,