The Grey River Argus MONDAY, May 25, 1942. LOOKING FOR THE DECISION

Grey River Argus, 25 May 1942, Page 4

The Grey River Argus MONDAY, May 25, 1942. LOOKING FOR THE DECISION

The recent predictions that peace might be gained with victory this year are being now qualified, particularly in North America. It had earlier appeared that upon bjoth the Russian Front and the South-West Pacific Front, the enemy had been forestalled, and it might not be correct, even now, to say that the Allied forces by their initiative in each case have not gained advantages which will prove lasting, and enable offensive action to be further extended. Nevertheless the President of the United States, - the Secretary of State, and our own Minister to the United States, Hon. W. Nash, are quoted in to-day’s news as having each given a warning that there is a danger of excessive optimism. Mr. Nash has even gone so far as to tell Canadian members of Parliament that the war even could yet be lost. What I he doubtless means is that any relaxation cf effort on any Front .would be calculated to be exploited by the Axis Powers, which have latterly been suspect in their propaganda of an attempt to induce their strength to be underestimated. Such reports as that forecasting the likelihood of starvation stalking the whole European Continent this year are not the best specimens of Allied propaganda, even though it should be recognised that in the matter of food as well as other supplies, Germany and Italy at least arc much worse circumstanced than any of the United Nations whose territory has not come under enemy occupation. Mi‘. Roosevelt, admitting the shipping difficulty meantime sharpened by the enemy submarines, predicts that American shipbuilding will now dwarf all previous records and gives the assurance that cargoes from the United States will continue ■ to reach their destinations in spite •of every possible enemy obstacle. That the Allies are, however, looking forward to favourable developments is shown by the British invitation for leading American Congressmen, to visit London and confer on both war and peace plans. Dr. Keynes declares that

it will require at least three years front the termination of hostilities to reconstruct the world, Mr. Nash points out that after 1944 there will necessarily he a har dstruggle to ensure a settlement calculated to last. It is a hopeful sign that the objects <of 'the struggle on the Allies part are coining now however to some sort of a definition. Their further clarification might bo calculated to commend them to more of the peoples on whom the enemy leaders are relying, and so weaken the will of those peoples to perpetuate hostilities. It is recognised that German opposition to the ruling element is still impotent, for which reason the course of ’ the Russian offensive will be watched in every Allied country with interest as great as that taken in any other phase, of the war. As was to have been anticipated,'the Axis is now increasing activity on the Eastern Front ,having secured the Kerch Peninsula, and massed millions of men in the Ukraine, where the spring offensive proper appears now to he commencing. It has already had its spearhead blunted, whilst time is flying, and the 'Russians maintain an attack which is costing the enemy dearly. The report that the Red A 1'111.7 has lost the gains made in the Kharkov offensive is disproved by the Russian reports of continued progress, whilst the German tanks, on which so much reliance is placed, have so far faded to make an impression. Until, however, the conditions are stabilised and the full capacity of both sides is revealed, it doubtless is premature to look for a. quick decision. That is the explanation of the warning against undue optimism and complacency.