CONFIDENT REVIEW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 29 September 1944, Page 5

CONFIDENT REVIEW

The delay caused to the enemy enabled the British and Americans and two other airborne divisions to secure i intact vitally important bridges to form j strong bridgeheads over the mair stream of the Rhine. The success of General Patch’s invasion in £buthern i France and the link-up with General Eisenhower’s command was accomplished in under half the time expected. ‘ The fighting front would soon be more than doubled. The largest mass on the Italian front was from the United Kingdom, which provided about half the divisions. A very hard task lay before the army in Italy. Conditions hence forward would be more favourable for the destruction or rout of General von Kesselring’s army. • Mr Churchill said President Roosevelt had accepted the British offer of the British Fleet’s co-operation against the Japanese. A large proportion of the Fleet had already gathered in the Indian Ocean. ‘Such vast frittering away and dispersal of forces has never been seen and is of course the prime cause of the impending ruin of Germany,” said Mr Churchill. “When Hitler escaped from a bomb on 20th July he described his survival as Providential. I think that from a purely military point of view we can all agree with him. For certainly it would be most unfortunate if the Allies were to be deprived in the closing phases of the struggle of that form of warlike genius by which Corporal Schickelgruber has so notably contributed to our victories. ‘There is a great deal more mopping up to be done in the Low Countries and some F:2nch Atlantic ports and harbours have to be cleared and developed on the greatest scale possible before winter gales. Problems of supply have to be resolved. WARNING NOIE “I deprecate very much being carried away into premature expectations concerning the immediate cessation of fighting. It is very hard not to be when each day newspapers are rightly filled with the capture of important places and the advance of armies, but there is still a great deal to do in a military sense. * “Hitherto in the first four critical months we have managed to be equal or almost equal partners with the United States, but now there will be a great flow of their well-trained divisions across the Atlantic which will carry them decisively into a leading position. Unless German resistance collapses in the *near future enormous additional United States forces will be brought to bear in the final struggle. “I shall certainly not hazard a guess • —it could not be more than a guess as to when the end will come. Many persons of highest technical attainment, knowledge and responsibility have good hopes that it will all be over before the end of 1944. On the other hand no one, certainly not I, can guarantee that several months of 1945 will not be required. ‘There is also a possibility that after the organised resistance of the German State and armies is completely broken fierce warfare may be maintained in the forests and mountains of Germany by a number of desperate men conscious of their own guilt and impending doom. This, of course, would at a certain stage deserve the treatment which the Germans so ruthlessly meted out to guerrilla movements in other countries. It may be necessary for the Allies to declare at a certain date that the war against the German State has come to an end and the period of the mopping-up of bandits and war criminals has begun. No one can foresee exactly what form of death agqny Nazidom will take. “For us an important decision will be to choose a moment when substantial forces can be withdrawn from Europe to intensify the war against Japan. We certainly do not consider a declared date. The end of the war against Germany must necessarily be postponed until the last desperado has been tracked down to his last lair.” ►QUEBEC CONFERENCE Turning to Quebec, Mr Churchill said the victories gained in common made a very agreeable foundation for interallied conferences like the one just finished. It was very much more pleasing to share victories than disasters. We had shared both and in every way the former was a more exhilarating process. Mr Churchill referred to the co-oper-ation of Dominion statesmen in the work of the conference and remarked that it was now almost two years to the day since Field Marshal Rommel’s final advance against Cairo was repulsed. Since then our affairs all over the world and the affairs of the mighty Russian ally had proceeded without a single reverse of any kind excepting only the loss of Leros and Cos in the Aegean and even those might ultimately turn out a loss to Hitler rather .nan ourselves. Such a mounting ride to victory was without example in history. The Governments of the Allies had every right to claim the confidence of the United Nations in the new effort that would be required from all in future designs conceived and shaped which had still to be unfolded in action. Complete agreement was reached in Quebec by the combined Chiefs of Staff. “The President and I have both pursued the policy of making no changes, other than those caused by deaths as in the lamented loss of Admiral Pound, in Chiefs of Staff charged with the conduct of the war,” said Mr Churchill. “In this war there have been none of those differences between political and professional elements such as we nad in the last war. Our complete

PROGRESS OF THE WAR Mr Churchill Speaks to Crowded House London, Sept. 28. Reviewing the war situation before crowded benches in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, said: The short period of the summer recess has completely changed the face of the war in Europe. What a transformation now meets our eye. The foul enemy, who for four years had inflicted cruelties and oppression, has fled, losing 400.0T50 men in killed and wounded and leaving in our hands nearly half a million prisoners.. There might well be 200,000 men cut off in the coastal fortresses or in Holland whose destruction and capture may now be deemed highly probable. “We lost upward of 90,000 men in killed, wounded and missing in France and the United States, including General Patch’s army, lost over 145,000. “The vast and brilliant encircling movement of the American armies will ever be a model of the military art and example of the propriety of running risks. The lightning, advance of the British armies has not been surpassed an>*where. After paying a tribute to the superb feat of arms of the rirst Airborne Division, Mr Churchill said: “Its casualties are grievous, but for those who mourn there is the consolation that the sacrifice was not needlessly demanded. ‘Not in vain may be the pride of those who survive and the epitaph of those who fell.

confidence in Chiefs of Staff has steadily grown in consequence of the fact ! that we have had no changes. The men | who met at Quebec knew each other well and were united in the bonds of comprehension. “Obviously the discussions were concerned with a successful winning of the war in Europe also with the new phase of the war Japan which will dominate all blinds and command all our resources from the moment the German war is ended.” JAPANESE MENACE Mr Churchill continued: “We owe it to Australia and New Zealand to help them remove for ever the Japanese menace to their homeland as they . have helped us on every front in the fight against Germany. We shall certainly not be behindhand in giving them effective aid. “Our perseverance in this quarrel is not to be doubted. I offered some time ago to embody this in a definite treaty, but the President made the courteous reply that the British word was enough. That word we shall certainly make good. We offered the United States the fine modern British Fleet and asked that it be employed against Japan. This offer was at once accepted and a large portion, of this fleet is already gathered in the Indian Ocean and for the past year our battleships have been undergoing a measure of modernisation and trop.;alisation. IMMENSE TRAINING B*LEET “Nine months ago we began the creation of an immense fleet for trainI ing comprising many soecial vessels' | and repair ships, etc., in order that our fleet might have a degree of mobility which for several months together will make them largely independent of main shore bases. We hope to place in the Pacific a fleet capable in itself of fighting a general action with the Japanese Nav> and which, added to the far greater United States naval power, should give us naval command of those vast ocean spaces and seas of a most complete and decisive character. “One must also contemplate that a phase of the war against Janan will be severe and intense prolonged air bombardment against the Japanese mainland installations and munition centres. In this we shall also bear our part.’* Mr Churchill mentioned that the end of the U-boat war, when it came, would enable us to dispense with the convoy system and this would increase by at least 20 per cent the carrying capacity of our Mercantile Marine, but it would take time to transfer the increase to the other side of the world. The entire brain and technical power of Britain and the United States would be ceaselessly displayed. Having regard to results already obtained in so many directions we may feel with confidence that it will not be employed in vain. The House bad a short adjournment. FOREIGN POLITICAL SITUATION When the House of Commons reassembled Mr Churchill, dealing with the foreign political situation, said this had responded to militarj' events. At no time had diversities of opinion been allowed to affect in any way the majestic march of events in accordance with the agreement at Teheran. Mr Churchill referred to the actions of Rumania. Bulgaria and Finland in party relations with Germany. Soviet intervention in the Bulgarian theatre was startling and effective. An instant declaration of war by Russia was sufficient to induce Bulgaria tp turn her fleeing armies against the German intruder. Britain and United States had now joined the Soviet in framing suitable armistice conditions which had net yet been signed. He spoke of many acts of wanton cruelty and wickedness by Bulgarians in the present war in which Bulgarians themselves had suffered nothing. “Some of the worst war criminals are Bulgarians. They might be treated as co-belligerents, but as far as Britain is concerned they must work their passage for a long time in no uncertain fashion before we car\ afford them any special status.” Mr Churchill added that the more vigour with which the Bulgarians fell upon the Germans the more they would be able to draw the attention of the- victorious nations from their previous mistakes. Speaking of Poland. Mr Churchill said it would be affectation to pretend that the British and United States attitude was identical with Russia. Marshal Stalin had repeatedly declared himself in favour of a strong and friendly Poland sovereign and independent, and Britain and, he thought the United States, were in accord with this. DUTY TO POLAND “We in this island who drew the sword against mighty Germany—we who are the only great unconquered nation which declared war on Germany on account of her aggression against Poland —we have sentiments and a duty towards Poland which deeply stirs the British race. Everything in our power has been done and will be done both in letter and spirit to fulfil the declared purposes towards Poland of the throe great allies. I trust Russia will make it possible for us to work unitedly with her in the solution of the Polish problem and we shall not witness the unhappy spectacle of rival governments —one recognised by the Soviet and the other firmly adhered to by the western Powers.” Mr Churchill said he had great hopes of M. Mikolajczyk, Prime Minister, and he hoped he and his colleagues would be able to resume the conversations in Moscow interrupted some months ago. It was his (Mr Churchill’s) firm hope that a good arrangement would be achieved and a Polish Government

might be brought into being which would have the confidence of the three Great Powers concerned. The paramount task must be the speediest possible destruction of Nazi power. Every problem, that now faced the nations of the world would present itself in a far easier and more adaptable fqrm once cannons ceased to thunder in Europe and the victorious Allies gathered around the table of armistice and peace. “I cannot conceive that it is impossible to make a good solution by which Russia has the security which she is entitled to for her western frontiers. and at the same time the Polish nation has restored that national sovereignty and independence for which for centuries she has never ceased to strive. A territorial change in frontier there must be. Russia has the right to our support in this matter. She is entitled to a safe frontier and to have a friendly neighbour on her western flank.” RELATIONS WITH ITALY Referring to Italy Mr Churchill said the House would have read a joint statement by President Roosevelt and himself embodying every distinct improvement and mitigation in our relationship with the Italian Government. “What impressed me most in the course of my visit to Italy was the extraordinary goodwill displayed by the Italian people to the British troops. I cannot bring myself to feel any sentiments of hostility towards the mass of the misled, coerced Italian people. Obviously no final settlement can be made with them until the north of Italy is liberated. There are good hopes that th : s will soon be achieved.” Marshal Badoglio had faithfully observed the conditions of the armistice. Mr Churchill said every measure of precaution would be taken, to prevent outbreaks of mob vengeance however great the provocation might be. For the men who had made themselves agents of the betrayal of 300 or 400 killed in the catacombs of Rome, punishment there must be, but it must be punishment which conformed with the highest form of justice RESCUE OF FRANCE The Prime Minister said nothing gave the British nation and the King’s Dominions all over the world more joy than the wonderful spectacle of the /•escue of France bv British and American arms from the terrible oppression of the Huns. “It is nearly 40 years since I first became convinced that the fortunes of Britain and France aie interwoven. Bearing in mind some of the mistakes in our own policy before the war. the failure of the League of Nations in consequence of the falling out of America, and other weaknesses, also the loss of nearly 2.000,000 men in France sustained in bearing the brunt of the last war and the terrible effects of this unexampled bloodletting upon the whole heartbeat of France —I always had the liveliest sympathy for French people. I always felt that the heart of the French nation was sound and true and she would rise again in greatness and power. “It is the aim, policy and interest of Britain and the whole Commonwealth to see erected once more at the earliest moment a strong. independent and friendly France. I have every hope that this will soon be achieved, and the French people working together in unity, purpose, sincerity and courage have a great chance to build up a new France which will take its place among the leading nations of the world.”

Mr Churchill added that hitherto by force of circumstances the French Algiers Committee could not be a body representing France as a whole. It would now seem possible to put into force the decree of the Algiers Committee by which at an interim stage, the Legislative Assembly would be transformed into an elected body reinforced by elements drawn from inside France. To this body the French Committee of National Liberation would be responsible. He desired to see France take her place at the earliest moment in the councils of Allies and he hoped in the near future that a happy settlement would be reached satisfactory for all concerned. The Prime Minister went on to express gratification at the part played by the British troops in the liberation of Belgium. “We have read.” he said, “of the tumultuous welcome which everywhere our troops have received from the Belgians and I regard this as a happy augury for the maintenance and strengthening of the ties of friendship between the two countries. Many hundreds of thousands of our dead sleep on Belgian soil and the independence of that country has always been a matter sacred to us.” Mr Churchill added that he trusted that at no distant date we should see the completion of the task of complete liberation of our staunch though sorely tried ally. Holland. “They are also very near to us in thought and sympathy and their interests at home and also abroad command British support and are now largely interwoven with our own fortunes ” DUMBARTON OAKS CONFERENCE Referring to the Dumbarton Oaks Conference between Britain, the United States and the Soviet, Mr Churchill said it was expected that similar conversations would follow between British and American delegations and representatives of China. These conversations had been on an official level only and did not in any way bind the Governments represented. but there had been assembled a body of principle and an outline of structure which in one form or another It was the prime purpose of the Allies to erect after the unconditional surrender and total disarmament of Germany had been accomplished. The British Government could have no abler official representative than Sir Alexander Cadogan and there was no doubt that a most valuable task had been discharged. The whole scene had been explored and many difficulties not merely discovered but adjusted. There were, however, more questions outstanding and we ought not to be hurried into a decision upon which the united opinion by the various Governments responsible was not at present ripe. Mr Churchill gave a warning about sensational stories regarding the conference from the other side of the Atlantic and said everything seemed to depend on the agreement of the three leading European Powers and the world Powers. "I do not think a satisfactory agreement will be reached until there has been a further meeting of the three heads of the Governments, assisted as may be necessary by the foreign secretaries.” Mr Churchill earnestly hoped it might be possible to bring about such a meeting before the end of the year. There were difficulties which he hoped might be overcome. He hoped the third partner, Marshal Stalin, who, of course, had been kept informed, would join in a tripartite conference as soon as the military situation rendered possible. “I have never been one of those ► who believe that all problems of the immediate future can be solved while we are actually engaged in a life and death struggle with the German and Nazi power and when the development of the war against Japan must increasingly claim first place in the minds of those responsible for the conduct of the war. The shortening of the war would itself be a boon greater than many important acts or legislation could confer. “It is right to make surveys and preparations beforehand and many are being and have been made. The decisions cannot be taken finally even for the transition period without far closer and more searching discussions than

can be held amid the clash of arms. Moreover, there are many factors at present unknown which will make themselves manifest after the destruction of the Nazi regime. “This is not the time to make hard and fast decisions on incomplete data at a breakdown speed. I have spoken with exceptional caution on foreign affairs and with no undue regard for popular applause I have sedulously avoided all appearance of any one country trying to lay down the law for itself. I hope, however, that I have given the House some impression of the heavy critical work that is going forward and that lies before us and will be before us after the downfall of our principal enemy has been effected and I trust that what I have said may be weighed with care and goodwill not only in this House and the country, but also in the far wider circles involved.”