Mountbatten “a Complete Triphibion”

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

Mountbatten “a Complete Triphibion”

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. SL “A complete triphibion” was a novel phrase Mr. Churchill coined in his broadcast to-night to describe Lord Louis Mountbatten. This meant a nature equally at home in earth, air or water—also well accustomed to fire. Commenting on the comparative youth of the Commander-in-Cbicf of all the British and American forces in Southeast Asia—who “will act in constant association with General Chiang Kai-shek”—the Prime Minister said: “If an officer having devoted his life to military art does not know about war at 43 he is not likely to learn much more about it later on.” On the subject of a second front, Mr. Churchill observed that he always thought of a third front as well, and added: “I ha\e always thought that the Western Democracies should be like a boxer who fights with two hands and not one. I believe that the great flanking movements into North Africa will be regarded in after years as quite a good thing to do in all the circumstances; certainly it reaped rich and substantial resultb. Africa has been cleared of the enemy, and at least 500,000 prisoners are in our hand... “In the brilliant campaign of 39 days Sicily, defended by over 400,000 Axis troops, had been conquered.” Fine Tribute to Russia Among the Premier's references to the Russian war effort were those noteworthy words: “No Government ever formed among men has been capable of surviving injuries so grave and cruel as those inflicted by Hitler upon Russia. But he under rated Mr. Btalin, and thauks also to the stand made by thsi British peoples wljen they were all alone and to the abundant British and American supolies and munitions of aJI kinds. Russia has not only survived and recovered from her frightful injuries but has inflicted, as no other force in the world could have inflicted, mortal lamage on the German army machine.” A study of the full text of Mr. Chun hill’s speech also shows the importance that he attached to the recent events in Europe. He said: “Most important and significant events are taking place in the Balkans as the result of the Russian victories and also, I believe, the Anglo-American campaign against Italy. Twice in the last 30 years the Bulgarian people will owe fheir liberation and existence to Russia. ”