THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1940 SIX MONTHS AT WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23595, 2 March 1940, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1940 SIX MONTHS AT WAR

Britain and the Empire have been at war with Germany for six months. Actually the half-year will complete itself at 11 a.m. to-morrow, ending as it began on a Sunday morning. The present is an occasion for examining the situation in which we Jind ourselves. It is a great deal better than anyone could have anticipated, none of the more dreadful prognostications having been fulfilled as yet. The Allies have been able to use the period of passive war to strengthen and secure their position. They have been able to complete their mobilisation almost without loss, to make their military dispositions, and add enormously to their store of munitions. But if so far they have been spared the thunderbolts of the "blitzkreig," ! they owe the reprieve partly to the fact that the full force of the Nazi fury and war lust was turned first against unhappy Poland. Her crucifixion must not be forgotten ; reparation must be made. From the Cierman viewpoint, the Polish conquest was a first-class success, eliminating an enemy nation of 34,000,000 people, removing the necessity of fighting on two fronts, and addipg important resources to the Reich. More than balancing this important local success on land has been the worldwide victory won at sea by the Allied navies, whose supremacy has been unshakably established on every ocean. By contrast with the quiescence on land and in the air, the war at sea has been waged keenly and unceasingly for the whole six months. The complete mastery won by the Allies at sea should, unlike the German victory in Poland, prove in the long run to be decisive. Another war that has been waged without pause these last six months has been the diplomatic war. Although it is not easy to assess ever}' move in the chancelleries, it can be confidently asserted that on balance the Allies have been gaining ground. Here again the groupings and attitudes of the nations is much more favourable than was the case before Germany invaded Poland. Official and popular opinion in almost every land has been outraged by Nazi barbarism. Hitler has been the best canvasser for the Allied cause. This phase of the war really began with the signing of the RussoGerman Pact of Non-Aggression at Moscow on August 24. If the pact cleared the way for the Nazi attack on Poland, thus making general war inevitable, it also effected a revolution in world diplomacy. The reactions are still working themselves out. At one stroke the pact defeated the hope of a strong "peace front' in East Europe and made a fool of the "anti-comintern front," to which Japan, Italy, Spain and Hungary had adhered along with Germany. The new affiliations of these four countries are not yet clearly defined but Hitler can no longer count upon them as certainly he did prior to August 24. The first months of the war also saw the amendment of the Neutrality Act by the American Congress to permit the export of munitions. At the same time the United States virtually abandoned her 1914-17 theory of the freedom of the seas, enabling Britain to exercise strict contraband control and build an effective sea \ blockade against Germany. These were diplomatic gains of the first importance. Further points in this war were presented to the Allies by the Russian invasion of Poland on September 17, the subsequent bullying of the Baltic States, and the unprovoked attack on Finland on November 30. If one effect has been to tighten the unholy bonds between Nazis and Bolsheviks, another and more important effect has been to range the whole of world opinion outside Reich and Soviet on the side of the Allies, a considerable asset in the economic war, especially in reconciling neutrals to the blocjcade. While the record of the last six months can be viewed with satisfaction, it should not induce complacency. The strongest argument in diplomacy and on the battlefield is power. Unless British and French develop their power to the maximum, victory cannot be considered as a foregone conclusion. With neutrals, fears are apt to overcome sympathies. Justice is not sure of prevailing unless it goes well-armed. How far is New Zealand assisting to fulfil this essential condition in the warring world? The decision on September 3 found her far from prepared. She has been fortunate that she has been allowed time, that the war has so far spared the Pacific. In many directions she used the time. Great progress has been made in organising and equipping military forces under several categories. On the other hand, no special productive effort has been made; we have not begun to do our part in the economic war. Even the military effort is far from reaching the necessary maximum. It is not commensurate with the popular will and national resources ; it cannot compare with the exertions and sacrifices of Britain and France. Mr. Fraser, as deputy-Prime Minister, freely admits the shortcoming. Now it is for all of us to urge on and support the Government in its war programme, deeply thankful for the breathing-space of the last six months but fully aware that vce shall not earn a final and honourabledischarge from this war unless we j put forth our utmost*