Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1942 STALIN KEEPS HIS EYE ON THE BALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 6 October 1942, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1942 STALIN KEEPS HIS EYE ON THE BALL

j NO wonder M. Stalin was intrigued when he learned from Mr Wendell Willkie the full significance of the expression "keeping your eye on the ball.” It suits the Soviet leader ad-, mirably and is even more appro- j priate when given the twist that j Stalin imparted to it: "I never take; my eye off the ball.” He prefers it that way: never to lose sight for an ! instant of his goal and to drive to- j wards it with relentless singleness; of purpose. If the mingling of j metaphors be pardoned we can say: that the Nazi ogre is the ball and; his complete overthrow the goal. To ■ the attainment of that the Russians! are striving with a universality ol' j effort and grim unity of aim which have been an example to the world and a lesson to enemies who held i them cheaply. Neither Soviet workers nor fighters ever take their eye off the ball. There is something in their mental make-up enabling them to endure almost unparalleled sacrifices and yet hold dourly on. The test of war has proved that the fibre j of Soviet Russia is tough. That same singleness of purpose makes the Russian leader one of the great realists of our time. He sees the goal so clearly that he cannot tolerate side issues which might deflect him from his course. Diplomatic niceties are not much in his line nor the humanities where they stand in | the way of accomplishment of aim. With his happy knack of phrase-mak-ing, Churchill, who has some of the same outstanding characteristics, called Stalin “a great rugged war chief,” a description which is peculiarly fitting. There is no doubt that Stalin fights for Soviet Russia. If there are allies who are grappling with the same foe then he is impatient that they should come to grips with him quickly. 1 Hence his written comments given l to the Associated Press on the second front. They are careful but frank. In the Soviet estimate of the current situation the second front occupies a place of first-rate importance, he says. Compared with the diversionary aid the Russians have given the Allies the help given to Russia so far is little effective. The one thing necessary to amplify and improve this aid. he adds, is that the Allies should fulfil their obligations fully and on time. These three points he rounds off with a reassuring valuation of Soviet capacity to resist Germany or any other aggressive Power intent on securing for itself world domination. This statement has been commented on by Mr Sumner Weiles and Lord Halifax on behalf of United States and Britain. They do not express resentment at it but admiration for the resistance of Russia. It is likely, says Lord Halifax, that Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt understand one another very well and the promise is repeated that the Allies will open the second front so soon as it is humanly possible to do so. Stalin was careful not to say when it should • be opened. “Fully and on time” is * the basis of his request. If it is true that the two democracies have not been able to keep their eyes so i steadfastly on the ball as has Russia j it is because they were playing the j game of peace when they should have I been training for war. Then one of t them, Britain, had to take the field j alone through the most hazardous 1 period of the contest while Russia j was busy preparing. Also both have j to confront another opponent with j whom Russia is not at present engaged. Neither Britain nor the United States has lost sight of the ball. Their greatest anxiety is to make sure that, when they do drive off. their shots will land fair on the green instead of being bunkered- A false start would be a serious setback for themselves as well as a hindrance to Russia and the common cause. Matueka Rainfall Rainfall at Motueka during SeptemI ber, as recorded by Air G. S. Huffam, | totalled 4.26 inches. Rain fell on 16 j days, the greatest precipitation on any one day being one inch on the 2nd.