WORLD APPROVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 10

WORLD APPROVES

ALLIES' CONDUCT PROSECUTION OF CONFLICT NO FANTASTIC CLAIMS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 10, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Oct,. 18 "There is nothing I can at present add to my statement of Inst week upon the attitude of the British Government to Hitler's speech," said Mr. Chamberlain in the House of Commons. "Apart from the comment of the German newspapers there is no indication of the German Government's views upon the issues 1 sought to define. "Meanwhile the opinion of other countries has had the opportunity of finding expression, and the German propaganda organs have used all possible ingenuity to twist foreign comment and make it less unfavourable to the German viewpoint, I should doubt whether this effort had any effect outside Germany itself, for it is difficult to conceal the fact that the vast bulk of comment by nearly all shades of political colour in neutral countries has shown full appreciation of the attitude of the Allied Governments." Inconvenience to Neutrals It was evident that the inconveniences of war inevitably brought to non-belligerents, which Britain would do her utmost to mitigate, had not obscured the fundamental issues at stake, the determination of which must be for the good of all and affect the moral and material welfare of neutrals no less than belligerents. "Since I last spoke activity has been unremitting in attack and defence," continued the Prime Minister. "The whole nation is grateful to the Navy for the efforts to ward off enemy attacks, and to remove the menace of the submarine, so that the steady flow of trade might remain unbroken. "The Navy this week suffered severe losses of officers and men. The House will certainly desire to pay a tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives at sea, on land and in the air. Failure of U-Boats "The failure of the U-boats to interfere Avith our trade is illustrated by the fact that the estimated losses of British ships entering and leaving our ports for the week ended October' 17 represented about one half of one per cent of the total number sailing. "Attacks by enemy aircraft on our fleet bases is a new feature of the war. but one which was fully expected." The extent of tho onomy's disappointment over the failure of these attacks to inflict serious damage could be measured by tho fantastic nature of the claims he felt obliged to invent. It was not true that the Hood, Repulse or any other capital ship had suffered the least damage. Tlie same was true of the aircraft-carrier Ark Royal.

Full Losses Published

The people of Britain were resolute enough to bear bad news, and therefore the Government had not hesitated to publish the full extent of the losses. Imaginary losses which • the German radio described with such unblushing impudence might serve for the time to raise their spirits, but in the end their falsity would be demonstrated and the consequent _ disappointment would be more depressing. "We on our side have no intention of claiming successes of which we are not convinced," said Mr. Chamberlain. "It is far more important that the world should be able to believe implicitly in the truth of the communiques we issue than that we should reap tho short-lived advantages which distortions of tho truth may bring."