ENEMY BREAKDOWN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25372, 2 November 1943, Page 3

ENEMY BREAKDOWN

“ANYTHING MAY HAPPEN” LORD HALIFAX OPTIMISTIC

WASHINGTON. (Rec. 11 p.m.) Nov. 1. The British Ambassador, Viscount Halifax, who has returned from London, told the press that the war in Europe had reached the stage “where anything may happen, but the Germans are tough, well organised, and capable of prolonging the war indefinitely.” He was strongly optimistic concerning the prospects of a breakdown in enemy resistance, and added: “ Germany is like a juggler keeping many balls in the air. and one slip means that more are likely to follow. The German civilian organisation, which is subject to heavy strain, is a tight machine, and consequently probably brittle, so that if one thing goes, such as transportation, it might lead to great results. ’ The situation could be judged by the toughness the neutral nations were displaying towards Germany. Lord Halifax said the English people were as solidly as ever behind Mr Churchill, whose position was unique

in history. He could not recall a Prime Minister who had represented the people so long and with such substantial unity. Lord Halifax referred to the “amazing strategy and action on the Russian front,” adding that it was impossible to exaggerate the results of the great battles on the Dnieper. The British people were naturally tired as they entered the fifth year of the war, but they were greatly cheered by the progress of it.