LABOUR MEMBER’S VIEW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 13 October 1941, Page 5

LABOUR MEMBER’S VIEW

' FALSE STRATEGY CLAIMED t i QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF t! COMMONS t ,. London, Get.. 11. j “The nation is uneasy and even J the eloquence of Mr Churchill does noY remove its fears,” said Mr E. , jShinwell, Labour M.P., in a speech. “I „ I have no doubt that Mr Churchill 7j desires to render full aid to Russia, but t it seems to me that the Government's policy is based on false strategy. If y the General Staff' said it is wiser to D conserve resources for the defence of t Britain it is making a grave mistake, s “It is fatal to imagine that if Gere many disposes of Russia we cun face I the enemy's tremendous onslaughts without the gravest -difficulties. It is easy to say we would be no worse j off' than before Russia was invaded. ! but we are now fully aware of Ger--1 many’s military strength and we are > far from reaching parity, in spite of the | Government’s declarations.” Requesting immediate answers. Mr Shinweil yesterday tabled in the House of Commons a series of questions on > aid to Russia. This may lead to a general debate, bringing to a head the • uneasiness of the British public about the weight and value of the British - efforts to help her most valuable ally. II THE WORST HAPPENED i "The Soviet is in desperate danger," said the “News-Chronicle.” “The Germans have already won a colossal victory. From the wreckage of the batlle- ; field Marshal Timoshenko may be able to salvage enough to rc-estublish him- . self further back, gravely weakened, ’.but not destroyed. But suppose that [the worst happens. What will the man ; \in the street say? ‘ "This is what he will say: 'For three , | and a half months Britain never raised j ;u linger on sea or land to help the j ! greatest ally we had. The only effort j |wp made was in the air. and that} j petered out for reasons beyond our , control.’ "It will be said that a rare. Heavensent opportunity was missed, not mere!ly to help Russia but to help our-j : selves. With our overwhelming! strength at sea, our massive force of l fighter planes, bombers and tanks. 1 and 750,000 well-armed men in the Middle East, do we still have to stand on the defensive everywhere and let! the moment slip? It will never return.” “TIME NOT YET RIPE” The “Daily Mail” staled: “Obviously j the War Cabinet has examined all the : possibilities of landing on the Con-j ; tinent, and considers the time not yet ripe. Winter is approaching, which is the worst time of the year to embark { on a continental offensive. "Britain can best help the Eastern j Front by continuing to send as much ! material to Russia as possible. Should j Moscow fall, the Russians could retreat to tlie Volga and hold that line throughout the winter. Russia lias the . manpower, and Britain and America [ have the machine-power. If between us we can equip the Russians, then next summer we should still have a great Allied army capable of a further 1 prolonged effort.'’—-8.0.W.