NEW FRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24101, 21 October 1941, Page 7

NEW FRONT

WORKERS' DEMAND

INVASION OF EUROPE AID FOR RUSSIA rRGED LONDON", Oct, 19 A conference of shop stewards decided to send a message to Mr. Churchill demanding the opening of a Western Front against Hitler as quickly as possible, adding: ""We pledge ourselves to continue our efforts to increase production /to a degree guaranteeing the maintenance of such a front and also material aid for our Russian Ally." Proposal*, designed to speed up production. were outlined at tiie conference, which was attended by 1500 delegates, representing -7)0,000 munition workers. programme was drafted, stating that all workers must set the highest example in the quality and speed of their work. There must be no cuts in piecework prices or bonus rates, however high the output. There must he greater scope for the interchange of labour and a pooling of tools, skill and practical knowledge. There should be an organisation of volunteer shock workers ready to work in any factory where an extra spurt was needed. A joint production committee should be appointed in every factory. Waste of Time Alleged A speaker from Manchester alleged that thousands of labour hours were wasted weekly through lack of actual work, and also that there was a deplorable absence of intelligent planning. The convener of tin; conference, Mr. Walter Swanson, said: "Workers in every factory feel a great and justifiable alarm, that the Government is not pulling its weight alongside Russia. Factories are seething with suspicion that the Government is letting Russia down or that the presence of Halifaxes, Moore-Brabazons and Margessons is the reason that there is no second' front. We warn the Government that the workers will never allow them to let Russia down. '•The workers demand that Britain put as much into the kitty as the Russians and insist on the immediate opening of a second front." Heavier Bombing Urged The development of air power on the western front was urged by the former chief of the Royal Air Force, Lord Trenchard, in a speech at Leeds. "Keep the Germans out of their beds," he said, "and keep their sirens blowing in Germany—that' is my motto. "1 believe the work of our great bombers will pave the way to victory," Lord Trenchard continued. "It is the continual striking at the centre of Germany that will cause cracks in their great organisation which will widen slowly but surely. Persistent and relentless effort by our bomber force will undermine and bring about the fall of this great war monster." The demand for more use of a greater bombing force against Germany, particularly Berlin, is growing. The Sunday Express aeronautical correspondent asks: "Has the War Cabinet changed its mind about bombing Berlin? Is the Bomber Command holding back something? If not, why do we never send out more than 300 aircraft on night raids ?

"Germany is making the most of the respite and plants -which we bombed last year are being rebuilt underground or are being dispersed in occupied countries."

PROMPT AID

SUPPLIES FOR SOVIET SHIPMENTS FROM BRITAIN LONDON, Oct, 19 The British Government has done, is doing and will do everything possible to supply Russian needs. This was made clear, states the British official wireless, by the Minister of Economic Warfare. Dr. Hugh Dalton, in a speech in Durham County to-day. Dr. Dalton revealed that within a few hours of the German attack on Russia —on the morning of June 22 —he was on the telephone making preliminary arrangements. "Within a few days," the Minister said, "our first economic mission had left for Moscow with a very close estimate of British requirements. Within, a week ships bearing much needed supplies were on their way. Very substantial quantities of rubber, tin, aluminium, lead, jute, steel and woollen cloth, and also several million pairs of boots, were supplied during the first three months of the Russian-German war. Then came the Moscow conference, when plans for the future 4 were worked out in detail and when M. Stalin expressed his thanks to the United States and Britain for their bortntiful supplies of raw materials, machine tools and munitions of war. " 'This assistance,' said M. Stalin, 'is generous, and the Soviet forces will be enabled forthwith to strengthen their defences and develop vigorous attacks on the invading armies.' " APPEAL TO MINERS "ALARM HAS SOUNDED" PRODUCTION IN BRITAIN (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. ir> .V stirring appeal to the coalmining industry, executive and miner alike, was made by Mr. E. Edwards, secretary of the Mine Workers' Federation of Great Britain, in a broadcast to-day. Pit committees, said Mr. Edwards, had the responsibility, as much as the miners themselves, of making sure that shipyards, electrical and gas undertakings and factories were supplied with coal to aid in defeating the Nazi menace. "Had our Navy and Air Force boys, following the evacuation of. Dunkirk, failed in the fight for Britain, our country, like others in Europe, would have been under the Nazi yoke to-day,"' Mr. Edwards said. "Our material resources would have been disposed of by Hitler in opposition -to the Soviet! Union. How thankful we ought to be that it is not so."

Mr. Edwards concluded with a telling summary of Germany's aggression to date. "Imagine that you are looking on the face of a great clock," he said. "The hours are clearly marked. At one o'clock the Nazi regime takes Austriaj at two o'clock Czeeho-Slovakia; at) three o'clock, Poland; at four o'clock, Denmark; at five o'clock, Norway; aij six o'clock, Holland; at seven o'clock* Belgium; at eight o'clock, France; ati nine o'clock Yugoslavia; at 100 clock, Greece. At 11 o'clock the Nazis strike at the Soviet Union. At 12 will com ® the British hour. The alarm has sounded. It. depends on action now.