EARLY ELECTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24202, 18 February 1942, Page 8

EARLY ELECTION

SUGGESTION IN BRITAIN PREMIER'S LEADERSHIP 'MILITARY REVERSES g ■ " COMMENT IN THE PRESS By' Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright ;<Recd. 6.50 ».m.) LONDON, Feb. 10 Some of Mr. Churchill's closest advisers are considering plans for an early general election, says the political correspondent of the Daily Mail. A decision will be made soon, and, if decided up<in, the election would be modelled on Mr. Lloyd George's "coupon" election of 1918. Candidates pledged to support Mr. Churchill in all circumstances would be given official backing regardless of party considerations. There is no suggestion in press comment of minimising the gravity of the Far Eastern situation, says the British official wireless, and Mr. Churchill's description of the fall of Singapore as "a heavy and far-reaching military defeat" is echoed- in every quarter. At the same time there is no question that the general feeling is of unabated confidence in Mr. Churchill. Nation's First Need The News Chronicle says: "At such moments the first need of the nation is to reaffirm its faith in itself and its unalterable determination upon victory. Mr. Churchill, the toughest and most tenacious warrior of the Empire, has been in this respect a perfect example to all. Carrying an incalculable load of responsibility he has never wavered, and when times were bad he has never dissembled. "The news is grave, but we must keep it in its perspective. The war may go still worse for us before it begins to go finally and decisively better. But ,we know with certainty that, given fidelity of purpose and unsparing individual effort, the United Nations conSain within their maturing capacity the means of absolute victory-" _ Righting Weaknesses Both the Daily Herald and the Daily • Mail feel that Mr. Churchill is bearing a heavier burden of responsibility than any one man should be expected to parry. The Daily Mail concludes its ■ comment as follows: "The fortunes and mistakes of war will not be taken advantage of, by anyone. Air. Churchill can rest assured of this, but nothing t will deter us from probing into the weaknesses in our war direction and demanding that the Government fmt them right. Only thus shall we steer our way not only intp the storm but .through it. The Time's says the fall of Singapore and the escape of the German warships have given ,a sharper edge to the disappointment and anxiety which the course of the war in the Pacific has aroused along the whole Allied front. The paper adds that some criticisms ■"are misplaced, but their whole purpose is to stimulate greater and better coordinated effort. That can only be welcomed by the administration as reinforcing, its authority to subordinate every other interest and consideration to the primary purpose of winning the war. Thsfspiritv-of the British people is demanding that the Government match its own determination and express it in an unending, ruthless search for efficiency without regard to things or persons. DIRECTION OF WAR AUSTRALIAN CRITICISM RESPONSIBILITY QUESTION SYDNEY, Feb. 17 The loss of Singapore, although not unexpected, has caused serious concern throughout Australia and is the subject on everybody's lips. Evening news-paper-editorials yesterday were mainly directed to criticism of Mr. Churchill. The Sun said: "The fall of Singa- ■ pore is the culmination of a series of disasters which will intensify the anger of the Empire at the direction of the war. There must be some indication right now that the tale of preventible defeats shall end with some guarantee that any further enemy successes will not be contributed to by the indirection and blunders of our own statesmen and military leaders," The Daily Mirror describes the fall iof Singapore as a shattering defeat for the British Empire—a devastating phase in the Pacific war of strategic jvithdrawals and evacuations, for which one man "is responsible. If it is not Mr. Churchill, the paper adds, then he Is responsible for the men who made shem and has refused to displace them. (WASHINGTON MEETING AUSTRALIAN "THREAT" DENIAL BY MR. R. G. CASEY KBecd. 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 16 The columnists Pearson and Allen, la thear nationally-syndicated newspaper feature, to-night describe a meeting in Washington between Mr. Churchill and the Australian Minister, Mr. R. G. Casey, during which, they say, the defence of Singapore was discussed. They allege that Mr. Casey told, Mr., Churchill point blank that Singapore must be defended, and wafned him that, otherwise, the Australian troops would be withdrawn from the Near East, Furthermore,, they say, Mr. Casey j suggested that if London deserted the 1 Australians by not defending Singa- 1 pore, Australia could withdraw from the war and make a separate peace with Germany. Mr. Churchill is said to have yielded to this threat, and sent reinforcements, which arrived too late. Tho writers predict that this incident will forge closer ties between A us- . 1 tralia and the United States. . Mr. Casey has authorised the Asso- j] ciated Press to say that the allegations - are entirely without foundation. FASTEST FIGHTER * SUCCESS OF NEW TYPHOON \ . LONDON, Feb. 10 tt J imes t r T e l>orts that Captain' H. Ja. Balfour, Under-Secretary for Air, lias piloted a Typhoon plane, which fully confirmed earlier promise. The plane climbed at s. splendid pace and its speed showed that it is undoubtedly the fastest fighter Britain has pro- < duced. Captain Balfour, who flies each new type, has now tried the Spitfire, Hurricane, Whirlwind and Typhoon. < He is 44 years old and has been a pilot i gmce 1915.. - . GROWING ARMY i _ Washington, Feb. 17 xf Innn States has now a total or 2.000,000 men 111 the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and it is stated that l orn nm year an additional 1,JU0,000 men will be required. Men 1 th® age of 85 years registered for miJitary service yesterday, • ft