WHAT OF THE WAR?

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4221, 8 December 1939, Page 5

WHAT OF THE WAR?

IMPRESSIONS OF SIR HERBERT HART. BRITAIN’S POSITION. It was perhaps natural that the assembled returned soldiers and friends listening to Brigadier-General Sir Herbert Hart, K.C.8., D.S.O. at the Parish Hall on Thursday evening, should hope that, after chatting about life and conditions in Palestine, where he is now. Administrator for the Imperial War Graves Commission, he would tell them something of the present war. Sir Herbert, who is a New Zealander who has attained to very high eminence, kindly acceded to requests, and his encouraging remarks must have been heartening to his hearers He said at the outset that conditions in the Old World were very serious; but it was perhaps gratifying at the present juncture to note how so many things had gone wrong with the German plan for domination. Many blunders had been made by the usually clever Nazi planners. Hitler undoubtedly wanted world domination for the Nazis, and part of his plan had succeeded. He had absorbed Austria, Czecho-Slovakia: with Soviet help, Poland. The next move would no doubt be to dominate Rumania, Denmark and Holland, though which of the trio would receive first attention he (the speaker) could not say. Of course, France was afterwards to be smashed, and then Great Britain. But, added the speaker, it was very apparent to those in a position to know, that Hitler had convinced himself that the British would not oppose him. He was a man full of deceit, and was a ready liar; but he really didn’t want to fight Britain—or, perhaps the phrase would be better if he said Hitler didn’t want Britain to fight him. Some of his actions had already had a boomerang effect. By his pact with the Soviet he had lost the support and sympathy of Italy and Japan; he didn’t get much-needed Rumania—the Russians had blocked expansion for Germany there, and also in the Baltic. The gallant Finns were standing up to Soviet aggression in a wonderful way. Then Sir Herbert paid a warm tribute of praise to a British statesman who has many traducers—Mr Winston Churchill. He termed that statesman “The Great Churchill,” and said he had warned Britain long ago of the danger from the Nazis, to such effect that precautions had been taken to strengthen Britain’s defences, and fighting forces. The result of that wise counsel was being seen at present. Britain was ever so much better prepared to-day than at the outset of the 1914-18 conflict. There had been a big rush to join the Territorial Army, when Britain launched her scheme for heading-off German aggression; thirteen divisions were equipped for overseas service. The number of men under National Service had been doubled—and doubled again quite recently. All the fighting forces, and auxiliaries had been greatly strengthened. The equipment of all arms was an immense task, but it was done in a marvellous manner. There was not the hurry and blunder of the Great War period; everything had been planned, and execution was in the hands of reliable and efficient men. The speaker went on to name some of the men in the highest positions as indicative of the claim that there will be no muddling through. All were splendid leaders, proved in the hard school of experience. Some people, he added, commented daily that “This is a funny war,” or to that effect, but it was not funny. Really its methods were strange, but the tactics were proving successful. Britain had no need to waste men and strength by attacking. Time was decidedly on the side of the Allies. After the campaign in subduing Poland, Germany was very exhausted, in more ways than one. After the present winter, somewhere about March, there could be expectation of developments on a major scale—and by then Britain and France will both be tremendously stronger. He was convinced there was a lot of discontent in Germany; but that did not necessarily mean sabotage or subversive activity. The German people were compelled to work long hours for very low pay; but they complied. One of the worst blunders of the Nazis was when they struck at religion. That must have an adverse effect.

Sir Herbert -went on to caution people against the attitude of what he termed “hopeful wishing, pointing out that the war will not be won until Hitler and his minions have had a lot of heavy knocks. The Germans are very strong numerically and are well equipped, and their leaders are, he thought, looking round for somewhere to strike they must attack Soon, for waiting is perilous, Maybe the attack would be in the Balkans and towards the Black Sea, either as a solo effort or in association with the Soviet. He had no doubt there was intrigue in progress right now for Russian co-operation to do this as soon as possible. Strange to say, the termination of the last war was largely due to activity in Palestine and the Salonika area; it may be repeated on this occasion. He predicted great activity in that neighbourhood before very long. If he could give a message to the people of New Zealand. in the light of his special position to observe the trend of world events, he would say: “Don’t relax any effort to win. Britain and France are straining every effort; and New Zealand should, and will, do likewise. The time is coming soon for great happenings. And remember, our fate here does not depend on happenings in the Tasman Sea, but in the North Sea and Europe.” The speaker concluded amid hearty applause, and Mr J. Oliphant voiced the meeting’s thanks for an inspiring and intensely interesting address.