WAR SITUATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 9

WAR SITUATION

MR CHURCHILL’S REVIEW HITLER A FALSE PROPHET FAILURE OF AIR ATTACKS * (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Nov. 5. The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, began his eagerly-awaited House of Commons statement on the war situation by a review of the progress of the German air attacks since September 4, when Herr Hitler declared his will to wipe out the_ cities of Britain. Mr Churchill said he did not doubt that the Nazi leader at that time sincerely believed that it was in his power to carry his will into effect, but the cities of Britain were still standing, although 14.000 civilians had been killed and 20,000 seriously injured—nearly four-fifths of them in the capital. A great deal of house property had been destroyed and damaged, but nothing which could not be covered by the Government’s .insurance scheme Very little damage had been done to munition and aircraft production, although a certain amount of time had been lost through air raid warnings. This lost time would have to be made up as the country settled down to the new conditions. None of the services upon which the life of the great cities depended —water, fuel, electricity, gas and

sewerage—had broken down. On the contrary, although there must inevitably be local shortages; all the authorities concerned with these vital functions of a modern community felt on top of their job. Transport had presented a greater difficulty, but the problems were being solved in a manner tolerable to the great numbers of people who came in and out of the great cities every day. Shelters were being multiplied' and improved. Spirit of People Unbroken Of the spirit of the people Uhe Prime Minister said; “In these vicissitudes the bearing of our people, not only in London, but in Birmingham. Liverpool, Manchester and other places, has gained the unstinted admiration of all classes throughout the British Empire and the United States, and. so far as they have been allowed to hear about it, many of the peoples of captive countries.” ' The House heard with particular interest in view of the caution in his earlier statements the following declaration of Mr Churchill: — “ There is no, doubt that the full malice and power of the enemy and his bombing force have been employed against us. They have tried their best to obey Hitler’s orders, but the scale of their attack has dwindled.” Scale of Attack Dwindling “ The weekly scale of casualties (killed and seriously wounded) was for September 4500, and for October 3500,” said the Prime Minister. “ In the first week of intensive bombardment in September there were 6000 casualties, and in the last week of October 2000. This diminution in the scale of attack was not entirely due to the weather. The weather no doubt has a lot to do with it. but there are other things going on besides which play their part, and which, I believe, will play a greater part as the months pass by. The House will not wish me to go into technical details.” Putting the proportion of enemy losses to the British at three machines to one and six pilots to one, Mr Churchill observed: “Obviously this process, combined with our own rapidly increasing production and production in the Empire and the United Stales of aircraft and airmen—obviously this process is much the quickest road to our reaching that parity in the air which has always been considered the minimum for our safety and thereafter the superiority in the air which is the indispensable precursor to victory.” Mr Churchill concluded this part of his statement with the characteristic words; “Surveying the whole scene alike in its splendour and devastation, I see no reason to regret that Hitler tried to break the British spirit by the brutal bombing of our cities and countryside.”