BRITAIN’S PROJECT

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1942, Page 3

BRITAIN’S PROJECT

TO INVADE CONTINENT (Rec. 8.10) LONDON, May 21. Sir Stafford Cripps (Leader of the House), concluding the debate on the war in the Commons, said-— “(Britain intends to invade the continent as soon as possible. Co-ordi-nation of military, naval' and air activities in a war waged from the Arctic Ocean to Australia, and throughout the Atlantic and Pacific areas is a task of the greatest complexity. There is extreme difficulty in moving troops over immense distances under rapidly changing circumstances. The Germans and Italians have rapid interior lines of communication. We have to move round the perimeter. Similarly the Japanese, while they retain temporary control of the Pacific, enjoy interior lines of sea communica- i tion throughout the Pacific area, enabling them to rapidly concentrate their forces wherever they wished to strike. From the operational point of view, Australia has fallen into the sphere of A.merican help, but that does not mean, from the supply point of view, that Australia is left to the mercies—no doubt tender mercies—of America. It is quite certain that we shall do our utmost in balancing their needs against the urgent needs of other theatres of war. Australia will have every sympathy and help Britain can possibly give her in these difficult times.” Sir S. Cripps said Mr Churchill was not present, in accordance with an arrangement last March, when he \.Sir S. Cripps) was appointed leader, to enable Mr Churchill to attend to more pressing affairs. Mr B. Baxter said that if the Japanese landed in Australia the people of Britain would feel it as deeply as if the fighting took place on their own beaches. The Prime Minister, who had done so fnuch to keep the English people together, should give more faith and more voice to “our own kith and kin in the Empire.” Messrs H. P. Herbert, B. Baxter and W. J. Brown paid tributes to Mr Churchill.

Mr J. H. Martin 'Labour) sa’d Mr Roosevelt, Mi- Churchill and M. Stalin should meet somewhere, say, in Ireland, this summer, to build up closer unity. Captain O. Stanley opposed a single Service head. Nobody was fit to be permanent head except a civilian.

Sir John Wardlaw-Milne (Conservative) said that one man could not carry the responsibility for government in such times as Britain was passing through at the moment, and he accused the Government of never having shown the least intention of tackling the formidable problem of production. Sir Frederick Sykes said that an organisation was needed which would enable the three Services to be looked upon as one concentrated service.