FULL WAR STROKE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 167, 14 June 1940, Page 8

FULL WAR STROKE

BRITISH PRODUCTION. RECTIFYING. PAST ERRORS. (United Pre6s Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official vYireless.) RUGBY, June 11. The Minister of Supply (Mr Herbert Morrison), in a speech, gave a frank report on the national situation regarding the supply of essential war materials. His news of the month just lapsed, 1«« said, was good. A!" most instantaneously the nation had swung over to a lull war stroke and there had been marked , material increases in output. “Do not over-estimate tlie effect of t’/is spurt,’’ he said. “Do not belittle it, but do not expect the impossible of it.” Dealing with the events which led up'.to tRe situation disclosed after the withdrawal from Flanders, Mr Morrison said . British military policy had been founded on the belief that a great war could he fought with a great navy and air force and a small Continental army. The whole of the industrial planning until comparatively latterly had been based on this conception. Even when the cardinal error of this view bad been perceived the planning was not sufficiently bold and the limits of thinking were too narrow. Thus not only the years before the war were partially lost, but the first months ot the war itself were not turned to full account. ~ , For nine months after the outbreak the nation was in many, perhaps most walks of life on a peace rather than on a war basis. This situation could not be corrected at once. Referring to the enormous programme of factory construction, he said the w.ork was concentrated on those nearest completion and the drive to bring over to arms production factories previously engaged on other work was quickening in pace. SPLENDID SPIRIT. All available energy was being concentrated on the most urgent task. “The needs of the war mean that today many short-term measures are long-term wisdom,” Mr Morrison said He nave examples of the magnificent spirit of the work people in factories. “In one works women operatives late on Sunday afternoon at the end o their seventh consecutive 101 hour working day, asked whether they might bo allowed to work straight on until tlieir uncompleted work was finished. In another factory men were at work on a job whose early completion was important because many other things denended upon it. A large gang of men volunteered to get it done in the shortest possible time. They worked a straight 36 hours shift, and completed it. , , - ; Paying a tribute to the trade unions for their assistance, he said the trade union movement in this hour of crisis had proved itself a tremendous asset. ITALY’S ENTRY. Referring to Italy’s declaration of war, Mr Morrison said: We must not be too much cast down by the latest addition to the ranks of our foes. Ale would have had it otherwise We have enough on ofir hands in all conscience. But we have full confidence in cur preparations for dealing with this long foreseen menace What a bankrupt future lias Mussolini doomed the Italian people to bear! “Even if his wildest dreams were realised, Italy could only exist oil sufferance as the tool of Nazi _ Germany. And what we are convinced she- will, in fact, suffer, is defeat.

“Think of the Italian people with its rich nature and liberal instincts living under the shadow of this baibarism from the north. Think of the tragic fact that a dictator should have it in his power to bludgeon, deceive, and corrupt a whole people. And then think—think deeply—of those safeguards for decency' at home anu abroad which we and our Allies aie struggling to preserve.” PREMIER’S LEADERSHIP.

In a tribute to Mr Churchill, Mr Morrison said: “AVe are happy in our Prime Minister. As a colleague I pay a tribute to his leadership. He gives the members of his team ample authority and never-ceasing encouragement giving a helping hand over awlry aid steps. As a citizen I pay a tribute to the inspiring power of his quenchless courage. “Slow to action we are, but in action the British people . show resourcefulness inventiveness, and a knack of adapting odd and unexpected means to great and unexpected ends, and power to draw down achievement almost from the empty air. All these things we have seen in their fine flower in the exploit of Dunkirk. “Dunkirk was no victory—but it was an earnest of victory and a triumphant answer both to those who may still cherish the hope to tamper with- our morale and will to victory, and to those who talk as though war were just a mathematical calculation. Dunkirk was a triumph—not by any means the first in our history of mind over matter, or will and intelligence over the fury of brute force.’ I comniend it to you as a portent. In that sign we shall conquer!” AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. BRITISH PREPARATIONS. LONDON, June 12. The Home Secretary (Sir John Anderson), in the House of Commons, said the air raids precautions personnel was just below a million, including 180,000 whole-time paid workers. Splinter and blastproof shelters were available for 20 million, and the provision of shelters for factories and mines was complete. Sit John added there was a great possibility of unheralded air raids and for that reason the estimated period of warning of 5 to 7 minutes had been greatly reduced. Sir John Anderson revealed that the fire services account for 2000 in' addition to nearly a million air raid precaution workers, and the auxiliary police account for 60,000. Nearly 60,000,000 respirators have been issued, and nearly 3,000,000 steel helmets. Equipment to deal with incendiary bombs included the issue of nearly • 000.000 oilskin suits and over 1,000,000 stirrup pumps. Sir John, Anderson pointed out that arrangements for industrial establishments under the Civil Defence Act were not included in the figures.given. There were 150,000 trained personnel connected with industrial establishments concentrated in very highly organised units, and arrangements were being made whereby these could come to the aid of the services organised by the local authorities should the need arise. CHILDREN FOR DOMINIONS. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Dominions (Mr G. H. Shakespeare) in the House of Commons, said: “An inter-departmental committee has been I appointed under the chairmanship of i myself to consider -the offers from the I Dominions for the care of British: children,for the period of the war. The

committee lias already held a number of meetings and the work is cor.«nuing iu close touch with the Dominions. “I express the thanks of the. Government for this further demonstration of the co-operation of the British Commonwealth in our war effort. The Government is confident it should be possible to provide a practical scheme. The committee is giving urgent consideration to the whole question and has received a number of inquiries from British parents, but a scheme of this nature raises many intricate problems on, which the agreement of the Dominions is necessary. The committee will consult any organisation with a knowledge of emigration and evacuation.”