Churchill Says Great Blow Will Come Soon

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 208, 2 September 1943, Page 5

Churchill Says Great Blow Will Come Soon

(British Official •Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 31. “I look forward to the day when the British and American liberating armies will cross the Channel in full force and come to close quarters with the German invaders of France, ’ * said Mr. Churchill broadcasting from Quebec. “You certainly do not wish me to tell you when that is likely to happen or whether that it is near or far,” Mr. Churchill continued, “but whenever the great blow is struck you may be sure that it will be because we are satisfied that there is a good prospect of continuing success and that our soldiers’ lives will be expended in accordance with sound military plans and not squandered to political considerations of any kind. “I submit to the judgment of the United Nations and history that the British and American strategy as directed by the combined Chiefs-Ox-Stafi and as approved, and to some extent inspired, by the President and myseli has been the best open to us in practi cal circumstances. It has been bold and daring and has brought into play against the enemy the maximum effective forces that could have been deployed up to the present by Britain and the United States, having regard to the limitations of ocean transport, the peculiar conditions of amphibious warfare, and the character and training ot the armies we possess. Russia’s Magnificent Stand “The terrific aerial attack on Germany would not havo been possible without the magnifictnt stand by the Russians against Hitler’s forces. No country has withstood such a devastating attack as that thrown against the Russians.” Referring to Russia, Mr. Churchill said that the Anglo-American Conference was largely concerned with the war against Japan and Russia had a five years’ treaty of non-aggression

with Japan. Ho added: “President Roosevelt and I will persevere in our efforts to meet Mr. Stalin. Meanwhile, it seems most necessary and urgent that a conference of the British, American, Russian Foreign Ministers should be held to take discussions to the point where the heads of the States might be able to intervene.” Mr. Churchill said that our assault on Germany had prospered. The diminution of Hitler’s war-making capacity had been achieved by air bombardment, which would steadily increase in volume and accuracy. The fate of King Boris of Bulgaria might serve as a warning to other rulers that “The wages of sin is death.” Pointing out that Britain’s principal activity against Japan must of necessity be centred on India, Mr. Churchill expressed his confidence in Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the newlyappointed Commander -in - Chief in South-East Asia. Italy Pays Penalty Turning to Italy, whose “war impulse” had been destroyed and who had paid a terrible penalty for allowing herself to bo misled by false and criminal guides, tho Prime Minister de dared: ‘‘How much easier it is to accept them than to shake them off. ’ A large number of German troops had been drawn away from France to hold down the Italian people, in order, to make Italy a battleground and keep the war as distant and as long as possible away from German sou. By far the greater part of the German air force had been drawn from the Russian front and was being worn down with evergrowing intensity night and day. We had established strategic initiative and potential both in the Atlantic and in tho Mediterranean of which thy enemy could neither measure the weight nor perceive the hour of its application. In conclusion tno Prime Minister said: “It is not given to the clearest-mint.c and most calculating mortals to know with certainty what is in their interest, yet it is given to the lot of simple folks to know what is their duty. Thai is the path along which the British Commonwealth and Empire, the great Republic of the United States, the vast UAS.R., the indomitable and innumerable people of China, and all the Unitea Nations shall march till our work is done and we may rest from our labours, and the whole world may turn with hope, confidence, good sense, and dearlybought experience from war to lasting peace.”