The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1944. FUTURE COURSE OF WAR.

Northern Advocate, 30 September 1944, Page 4

The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST" Registered for through the Post as a Newspaper. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1944. FUTURE COURSE OF WAR.

THOUGH Mr. Churchill would not commit himself, when addressing the House of Commons, to predicting the length of time required to defeat Germany, he made several statements which indicated to some extent the tenor of his thoughts. Mr. Churchill said that militarists who should be able to speak with authority had expressed belief that Germany would be defeated this year, but he personally would not say that some months of next year might not be needed by the Allies to complete their task. There Mr. Churchill left it to his hearers to draw their own deductions.

It was significant, however, that the Prime Minister should have suggested that the war in Europe might be ended by a unilateral Allied declaration instead of a formal armistice. The inference was that the Allies, when they have been able to occupy Germany, would declare the war at an end, thus placing guerillas and other die-hards in the category of persons who could not expect to be treated as prisoners of war if and when they were captured. The Allies would then be free to turn their attention to the defeat of Japan, while at the same time beginning the demobilisation of ground forces and the .reconstruction of Germany. It is noteworthy in this respect that Mr. Churchill should have revealed that the greater part of the British Navy is in the Indian Ocean, where structural alterations to meet conditions of tropical warfare have been in hand for some time. The removal of British naval power from European waters sneaks volumes for the state to which Axis' fleets have been reduced. News from Canada that floating bases for British warships are being constructed in readiness for the fleet’s participation in the Pacific war must also be noted when consideration is given to Mr. Churchill’s reference to the conclusion of formal warfare in Germany. The temper of the Allies so far as armistices are concerned is provided in the battle for Calais. So fiercely have the Allies bombarded and bombed the port, and so closely has it been invested by ground troops that the German commander requested the Allied commander to state the terms upon which surrender would be accepted. “Unconditional surrender” was the reply. Thereupon, aware of the hopelessness of continued struggle, the German commander asked for a 48 hours’ armistice to allow the civilian population to leave Calais. “Twenty-four hours” replied the Allied commander. This was accepted. The evacuation has no doubt been completed, and the ground cleared for a devastating onslaught by Allies, who are determined to secure the port as an avenue of supplies to armies attacking Germany itself. This incident is suggestive of the future course of the war. WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY. TOMORROW is being observed throughout the world as World Communion Sunday. This is the fifth observance since the day was inaugurated by the Federal Churches in America. Its purpose is to emphasise once a year a realisation of the unity of all Christians in Christ. Each of the celebrations has borne evidence of deeper significance, and has been marked by a larger following. ■ The movement does not have in mind the holding ot united communion services, but rather that each congregation shall try to have its own members present at its own communion service, and at the same time that celebrants should be conscious of their spiritual oneness with Christ and all other Christians throughout / the world. In this way there would be simultaneous ' celebration throughout the world of a sacrament Christ invited His followers to observe “in remembrance of Me.” Apart from the devotional aspect of World Communion Sunday, its observance must impress upon Christian people the situation of the churches within the life of the world. The relationships between the churches and their political, social, cultural and religious environments are undergoing changes so rapid and so fundamental that they all require thinking out As the Council of Churches in New Zealand has pointed out, these new forces are world forces, and'sooner or later they will affect the life of every church. It is therefore essential that the churches should learn ‘from each other, sharing with each other whatever light God has given to them in their attempt to lace new and unknown situations. In view of these things, it is suiely o-ood that the churches should at the same time tomorrow be waiting at the altar of God with joy, with humility and with hope.