The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1941 “We Shall Come Through”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21958, 9 May 1941, Page 4

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1941 “We Shall Come Through”

IN winding up the House of Commons debate on the war. situation Mr Churchill gave a detailed survey of the general position in which he did not attempt to minimise existing dangers. That his story impressed the House is proved by the practically unanimous vote of confidence received by the Government. The Prime Minister answered those who might have been inclined to criticise the holding of such a debate at this time by suggesting that it was desirable for the Government to have a periodical endorsement of its policy. This was unquestionably desirable following the recent defeat in Greece. Some might have thought that it would have been better for the Government to keep British interests exclusively in mind. Mr Churchill’s answer to such criticism, which may have been implied rather than expressed, was that the pledge to Greece had to be honoured, and if he were forced to make the same decision again he would act as he had done before. The British forces and the Greek Army were defeated on the battlefield in the Balkans. No attempt has been made to disguise that fact. Nevertheless, as Mr Churchill says, Germany has yet to reap the fruits of her victory, and they may never come to her at all. The Prime Minister said: “The addition of the Balkan peoples to the number of ancient independent States and sovereignties under the Nagi yoke that must be held down by forge and intrigue may by no means prove a source of strength to the German Army.” Each enlargement of German commitments assuredly makes the situation more difficult for the German High Command. These new areas have to be garrisoned and it will take more than a military occupation of their country to break the spirit of the Greeks, to name only the latest victims of Nazi aggression. Iraq and Middle East

Where Mr Churchill’s speech was specially valuable was in the analysis it gave of the position in the Middle East. The situation in Iraq is serious, he admits, but there is a good chance that the British forces will be able to break Raschid Ali’s revolt, and it is nothing more than a sectional revolt, before German assistance arrives. The time factor is the most important in this campaign which cannot be regarded as a war against the people of Iraq. Germany will do her best to gain advantage from the duplicity of the upstart Raschid Ali, but it appears that intelligent British anticipation of the most likely course of events in Iraq has lessened the possibility of the development of maximum danger. There would, it appears, have been no revolt at all had Britain been able to spare troops earlier for duty in Iraq.

This regional campaign, however, is only a phase of a much more extensive one in the Middle East. Mr Churchill admits that the loss of Suez would be one of the most serious reverses Britain could suffer, but he takes a hopeful view of the prospects in Egypt. For some reason not fully disclosed the Germans were able to push further across Libya than had been expected, but the courage of the men who are still holding out at Tobruk has nullified some of the German advantages, and it is felt that Tobruk can still be held. Mr Churchill was reassuring in the description he gave of the fighting conditions in the Egyptian desert. The battle there will not be won by weight of numbers, but by mechanical equipment. The British mechanised units are apparently sufficient to give an excellent account of themselves, so the earlier uncertainties about conditions in Egypt are largely disposed of by the Prime Minister. Although he did not hesitate to mention all the possible dangers, Mr Churchill was still able to deliver one of his heartening messages to the British people. “We have no need to fear the tempest,” he said. “Let it rage, let it roar. We shall come through.” What must disturb the Axis most is that Britain is able to take a long-term view of the struggle. In discussing the Battle of the Atlantic Mr Churchill could look two years ahead, if that should be necessary. Ultimately the tide will swing in Britain’s favour. Germany may be able to harass British shipping just now, but every vessel lost will be replaced, either in Britain or in the United States. Hitler cannot win against the inexhaustible resources of the Democracies. It is possible to argue, as Mr Lloyd George did, that the Axis has large potential strength in the occupied countries, but this unwillingly provided assistance for Germany bears no comparison with the vast combined potentiality of the British Empire and the United States. Domestic Arrangements

It was appropriate that the Prime Minister should have taken this opportunity of describing the methods followed for the conduct of the British war effort. There has apparently been some feeling that the system of administration was not perfect, and that additions or alterations should be made to the Cabinet. Mr Churchill is satisfied with his present colleagues and it is self-evident that a man who has the effective prosecution of the war so much at heart would not be content with less than the best administrative support available. Mr Lloyd George was critical on this point, but his motive for being so is not fully explained. He may feel that just one more useful addition could be made to the War Cabinet.