YEAR FOR ACTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24542, 26 March 1943, Page 4

YEAR FOR ACTION

CONFIDENCEJN BRITAIN BLOWS AGAINST GERMANY '(Special Correspondent) LONDON, March 21 The battle for what Mr. Churchill called the "Tunisian tip" is the main topic of conversation in Britain and its progress is being studied confidently and in detail. The people of Britain recognise that so much depends on its successful conclusion. Once the Axis forces have been driven out of Africa the Allies will, to use another Churchill phrase, be able to "get on with tho job," which will be to provide direct military assistance to Russia. The year is marching on. Already spring has officially begun by the calendar, but actually it began climatically almost a full month beforo schedule, and Britain, in common with Europe, experienced a most unusually mild and dry winter —so dry that rain is now required to help on the spiing crops. Spring finds the country in a different mood, as compared with last year. Then it was realised that the coming summer might see the peak of Axis ambitions, but Germany and Japan were prevented from shaking hands in the Indian Ocean by a fairly narrow margin. Then the mood of Britain was to attack in order to prevent this achievement and hold on until the hour when the United Nations became stronger. German Manpower Problem This year any apprehension that the United Nations may be unable to outlast the Axis Powers has evaporated and the mood is to invade. And this year the boot is rather on t.ie other foot for Germany. What will her position be when winter returns? This is the question this year, instead of what will be the position of the Allied Kations? The answer, it is ielt, lies in how Germany handles her manpower and production problems. It has been observed that Germany has a stark choice between maintaining her industrial output and replenishing the depleted ranks of the Wehrmacht. On lior success or failure depends the duration of the war in Europe. There are indications that the Russian front may become static temporarily Meanwhile, in Britain, there has been held an offensive exercise which was not only the biggest ever staged, but was also the earliest ever held, indicating that the Allied Nations plans are well on the march. It is hoped and confidently expected that, with the successful conclusion of the job in the "lunisian tip, ' furthei blows against Germany will follow fairly quickly. People in Britain anticipate that the stillest resistance will be met, for nobody doubts that if Germany is not as strong as she was last year she is a very long way from being weakened.

Domestic Conditions In Britain, where the industrial output per head of population _is the highest in the world, civilian life tends to" become somewhat drabber. Youths aged 17 are now registering and childless wives, except those whose husbands aro directly on war work, are now expected to do full-time instead of part-time work. Clothing is becoming more and more of a problem as stocks are used up, and tbe ration period has been extended another month. The war is certainly providing lessons in thrift not only in regard to money, food and clothes, but also paper, household scraps, water and fuel. The housing problem is growing and one of the most difficult things to find is an unfurnished house. Rents have generally risen. But in spite of all these by-products of war, the mood of tlio public is buoyant and the question most discussed, next to the war situation, is that of post-war conditions, with the consequent growing political domestic differences that are a, sign of health. OVERDUE OFFENSIVE LORD STRABOLGI'S COMMENT LONDON, March 21 The German come-back on the Donetz front and the second tragedy of Kharkov gave a serious warning to England and America, said Lord Strabolgi, formerly Lieutenant-Com-mander Keiuvorthy and Labour member of Parliament, in a speech at Winchester. Lord Strabolgi added that Hitler's transfer of 22 divisions to Russia from West Europe was a terrible reproach for those in London who were responsible for the higher direction of tlio United Nations' war effort. "Wo should have been ready by this," he said, "to launch the longpromised offensive on the mainland of Europe. Wo are holding only one German soldier in Africa for every 20 who are fighting against our Russian allies. It is worth the unavoidable risks of any great military campaign to defeat tlio Germans this year. If one-third of the British people were under the heel of the German invader wo would not talk so comfortably of the war ending tn 1944 or 1945."