How Long Will The War Last?

Northland Age, Volume XII, Issue 46, 26 August 1943, Page 4

How Long Will The War Last?

IT is a well known maxim among people given to prophecy that it is far safer to predict evil than good. For'if the evil does ! >t cme to pass those concerned are usually too thankful to do mon.'*than have a quiet laugh at the prophet, who can always protest that no man is more pleased than he that he has been proved wrong. But if the good predicted does not arrive then the prophet is apt to be made a scapegoat for the wrath the disappointment has roused. It is wisdom to hope for the best and * prepare for the worst. But to feed hopes for the best is apt to slow down preparations to meet the worst. It is human nature in a storm to turn every patch of blue sky into a fine day. So we have solemn official warnings not to make too much of the present series of Allied victories. The end of the war, we are assured, is far from being in sight. Germany is far from being beaten, in spite of great losses she has great armies still in being and the command of great resources. The Nazis are turning occupied Europe into a strong fortress that will test all the might of the Allied Nations to storm. Ultimate victory is, of course, sure. But a long road has to be fought over before that end is gained and to hope for a speedy victory is mere wishful thinking. There must be no slackening of effort, no hesitation make ev< n great* r sacrifices if necessary to feed the war effort. The war is likely to last for a long time yet. Yes, but for how long? One American naval authority put the end of the war at 1949. This, however, was felt to be overdoing it. and other authorities did not support him. But while faint hopes are held out that the war might possibly end next year, it is assumed that the fighting will last into 1945 and probably into 1946. That seems to be a case of preparing for the worst. It is wise enough, though what condition the world will be in after even another two years of fighting and destruction hardly bears thinking about. The War can only be won by the defeat of the German armies in the field or the collapse of the German people at home. After an uninterrupted series of victories the German armies are now experiencing defeat. But there is no evidence as yet that their fighting morale is impaired as that of the Italians has been. No one can question the skill, tenacity, and bravery the Germans have shown in this war. It may be taken for granted that the soldiers will fight stubbornly so long as their leaders bid them, and these leaders will seek to fight to the last, since defeat to them means complete ruin. To defeat the Germans will be a grim and a lengthy task to all appearances. Will the German home front remain firm? Judging by the propaganda devoted to bolstering up the spirit of the German people, the Nazis have grave fears of a repetition of 1918. Speaking recently, Sir Archibald Sinclair, British Secretary for Air, said : “ There is only one hope of getting to Berlin without the slaughter which the land battles of the last war entailed and that 1 I y the paralysis of German war power by the night bombii the B A v . and the day bombing of the U.S. Army I Air Force.” That policy is being followed relentlessly and perI and it is successfully destroying war production it seems also playing havoc with civilian nerves. Hamburg, a city of a million people, has been laid in ruins, and refugees from the cities are carrying alarm if not terror into the country. Early in the war Goering found it necessary to assure the Germafffc that there was no danger of their homes being bombed, and in consequence the effect of the bombing is all the greater. And every day bombs are made larger and more destructive and more and more bombers and fighters pour forth from the Allied factories. The bombing of Germany is bound to be intensified and will have its effect on the armies in the field as well as on the German population. The Nazis are using it to rouse anger and stiffen resistance, but it will have other effects. The Germans are a home-loving people and the soldier fighting abroad will always have the worrying anxiety of what is happening to his people at home. Then again the huge losses of men on the Russian front must cause great depression in Germany. The Russians claim to have killed four million of the German invaders. Even after discounting that heavily, the German losses must have been enormous, seeing the utterly reckless way men have been sacrificed \ in the invasion. And now with the invaders in retreat, even though a large portion of Soviet territory is still held, Germany has little gain to set-off against the loss. That the Russians have lost even more heavily is little consolation, seeing any hope of being able to dictate a German peace at Moscow must now be given up. Germany’s allies, jackals who crowded up to share the plunder, are now thinking of securing their own safety before being overwhelmed in the German ruin. None of them have any love for Germany and see no reason why they should help to prop up a failing cause. It is now accepted among the neutral nations that Germany will be defeated and both inclination and policy is to favour the victors. Sweden plucks up spirit to refuse the passage of German troops through her territory and the Nazis can only accept the rebuff meekly. Their only hope now lies in a compromise peace so that even if nothing from their conquests can be saved Germany might be left intact and strong, to stage a recovery and another effort. To that the Allied terms of unconditional surrender is unalterably opposed. Apparently the most likely way to secure an early peace is to bomb Germany into submission. The Germans found ferocious bombing successful in forcing the Dutch to submit and b*ve no cause to complain if their people receive the same treat■Bu To lay cities waste with the necessary slaughter of women . tiling to Colli ornplalo. But war at the ■HA the of ■A if Bombing has ltd to the - ilcocnuiud o ■|H 1 o in any V. ilil tic hope of a similar

HH|Hsti mated to cost £3,260,ipllllißllallsML HL ■ Eigth Army consumdaily and reKg;

Many English civil servants were i puzzled by the injunction, “Don’t i haver,” in a circular of instructions on official writing. * “If youth is not quite right in its opinions, there is a strong probability that age is not much more so.”—R. L. Stevenson.