CHURCHILL SPEAKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 6

CHURCHILL SPEAKS

GREAT WAR ISSUES ALLIED AID TO RUSSIA (Reed. 1.45 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 22 "This is no time fox- sorrow or rejoicing. It is time for preparation, effort and resolve," said the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons, making his first policy speech since September. "The war is still going on," said Mr. Churchill. "I have never taken the view that the end of the war in Europe is at hand, or that Hitler is about to collapse. I have certainly given no guarantee or held out any expectation that 1944 will see the end of the European war, nor have I given any guarantee the other way. Hitler Still in Control "My information on the whole goes to show that Hitler and his police are still in full control, and that the Nazi Party and the generals have decided to hang together. (Laughter). "The strength of the German Army is about 300 divisions. Although many of these are substantially reduced in numbers, the fighting quality of the troops is high. The recent fighting in Italy should leave no doubts on these points."

Referring to the bombing offensive against Germany, Mr. Churchill said it was true that the results had a noteworthy effect on German munitions production, and also produced in the people a dull apathy which also affected munitions production and A.ft.P. services. Immense Enemy Losses The Russians on the Eastern front were inflicting immense enemy losses. fact that so many enemy divisions were drawn into Italy and Yugoslavia, while other large bodies of his troops were held in France and the Low Countries by the fear of invasion, had been a help to the Russian victories. "Moreover," Mr. Churchill said, "the Anglo-American bombing of Germany, absorbing, as it does, 3,000,000 Germans, has drawn together, with other AngloAmerican activities, four-liiths of the German fighter force to the AngloAmerican fronts. That also has been of assistance to the Soviet Unipn. 1 think these statements should be made in justice to our Western Allies. They in no way detract from the glory of the Russian arms."