WAR OUTLOOK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1941, Page 5

WAR OUTLOOK

AUTHORITATIVE SURVEY IN AMERICA REASONS FOR BELIEVING BRITAIN WILL WIN. MORAL & MATERIAL FACTORS, j (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 5. Seventeen prominent students of naval and military affairs and world polities, including' former chiefs of naval operations, a former president of lhe Naval War College, and Colonel Donovan who. as President Roosevelt’s observer. recently visited Britain and the Middle Cast, contributed to a statement of reasons why Britain should win the war. The statement was broadcast in the United States this morning by the well-known military commentator. Major Feilding Elliot. Briefly stated, these reasons were: — SEA POWER & INDUSTRY. 1. British sea ower, which denies Germany access to the essential resources of the non-European world, both in industrial production and in raw materials. No Power without control of the seas, he said, has ever won a struggle of world-wide proportions. 2. The industrial plants of Germany are within reach of the Royal Air Force, whereas Britain (quite apart from her own considerable production, however subject to interruption) can draw upon enormous industrial plants in the United States and the Dominions, which are safe from air attack. The total industrial capacity thus available to Britain far'supersedes that available to Germany and her vassal States. In a war in which machines play so great a part this is a fundamental advantage which time will still further accentuate in Britain’s favour. NAZIS FULLY EXTENDED. 3. Whereas Germany’s industrial plant is now geared to maximum production, the military potential of the United States is only beginning to be felt in the struggle. The decisive area of the war is Britain and the North Atlantic Ocean. If American tanks, aircraft, munitions, ships and food supplies can reach Britain without substantial interruption and in ever-increasing quantities Britain can effectively repel an attack and ultimately take the offensive. An essential element of British survival and the element of victory is the maintenance of a sufficient flow of shipping across the Atlantic.

5. American naval forces now possess the necessary striking force, as in 1917, to equalise and perhaps to turn to our definite advantage the struggle which is now being waged along the convoy routes. Japan could be held in check should she desire to enter the war. ( AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION. 6. The production oi aircraft, particularly bombers, and their safe delivery would enable Britain to take effective counter-measures which would adversely affect the German morale. 7. The United States, as a nation on wheels, should be able to surpass all others in the science of mechanical warfare. 8. It is imperative to take account of moral factors as being an inherent part of the military potential.