THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1940 AN EMPIRE AT WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1940 AN EMPIRE AT WAR

For the Dominions and colonies which unite to form the greatest Empire the world has ever known, the year now drawing to a close has been one of frantic toil and endeavour under the stress of war, not without memorable achievements. There has been no weakening of the foundations on which Imperial unity is built. With the shining example of the Mother Country before them, the younger nations of the British Commonwealth have proudly accepted new responsibilities. They have settled down to play an everincreasing part not only on the battlefields, on the seas and in the air, but also 011 the farms and in mine, factory and workshop. The Empire as a whole is toiling for victory and not yet has the peak of its willing effort been attained. The work thus magnificently organised has been facilitated by the fact that there have been no territorial losses of any importance. During the year there was a withdrawal from British Somaliland in the face of strong Italian pressure and there were also slight strategic retirements in Kenya. In neither case, however, was the territory yielded of any real military or economic significance, and. in the light of the Western Desert campaign, there is no reason to doubt that it can be recaptured from marooned enemy forces whenever the time is deemed opportune. Thus the Empire will enter 1941 with its territories virtually intact, its economic and industrial strength enormously increased and its communications by sea seriously challenged but still open for commerce.

In the military sphere, armies from the ends of the earth have been sent to the aid of the Motherland. Canadian forces have been arriving in Britain in a steady stream, while troops from Australia and New Zealand form part of the garrisons in England and in the Middle East. At the same time all three Dominions have taken varying steps to ensure that their young men of military age are progressively trained for any further emergency i that may arise. South Africa, too, has shouldered a heavy burden in the defence of British African possessions and her expeditionary force in Kenya is holding an important Empire front. It is in the air, however, that the most striking Imperial effort has been made. Every Dominion has its own air force on active service, with additional men swelling the ranks of the Royal Air Force, and in countless engagements Empire airmen have gained imperishable fame. The great training scheme in Canada, already ahead of schedule, affords an assurance that a constant supply of pilots and crews will be available to assist Britain in her bid for absolute air supremacy. Xnr has the sea tradition been neglected. The intake of recruits into the Royal Navy has been less marked than in the other two Fighting Services, but both in the Navy and its auxiliary services —not least the Merchant Navy—men from the Dominions have followed the call of their British blood. Politically, the position of the Empire is sound. In some cases — notably in Australia, where confusion resulted from the recent general election—a more generous recognition of the need for political unity could be desired, but the democratic system is proving capable of adapting itself to the needs of the times. In South Africa, for instance, the political situation has actually improved, and the shrewd and capable leadership of General Smuts has generated a greater spirit of national unity than existed 12 months ago. Canadian statesmen have shown outstanding diplomatic initiative and the conclusion of the agreement between that Dominion and the United States for full cooperation in matters of defence was as significant as the subsequent leasing to the United States of British defence bases in the Atlantic. Canada's industrial stature has grown enormously in the last 12 months, while other parts of the Empire had an opportunity a few weeks ago at Delhi to co-operate in planning similarly intensive development to meet requirements in the Middle East. No review of the Commonwealth war effort would be complete without reference to the financial aid that has been voluntarily given to Britain for aircraft construction and for the relief \ of distress in bombed areas. An- j other point which should not escape attention is that in a full; year of war there has been no need j for a full Imperial War Conference. I The fact that every Government in a Commonwealth of free nations knows its own allotted task and can proceed to its performance with all possible vigour is proof in itself of the virtue of that freedom for which we are fighting.