WAR STRATEGY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1942, Page 3

WAR STRATEGY

POLICY IN THE FAR EAST PUBLIC AWAITING STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL. COMMENT ON SITUATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 25. Parliament and the nation awaits Mr Churchill's forthcoming statement on the war situation with the keenest anticipation. While pointing out that “no differences on other matters should prevent every section of the House from showing the warmest appreciation of Mr Churchill’s mission to America and his very notable achievement there,” the “Sunday Times” adds a warning that the public is anxious—"most anxious” —about the reverses in the Far East. “There will be serious questions to the Prime Minister—and more than questions,” it says. Nor is any attempt made by Mr J. L. Garvin, writing in "The Observer,” to under-state the danger facing the Empire in the Far East. "The swift destructiveness of Japan's intervention,” he says, “confronts the Allies for a time with practical difficulties of the most dangerous and urgent kind.” In a reasoned analysis of the needs of the West and the East, Mr Garvin, however, declares outspokenly, "Wie cannot grapple with Japan by weakening our hands against Hitlerism. Whatever else we may do, we cannot save any interest in the Pacific by committing suicide in the Atlantic. That ocean carries the lifeline of not only Britain, but also the whole cause of the Allies.” Regarding suggestions of excessive precautions taken for home defence, Mr Garvin emphasises the effects which any major distribution of forces would have. "On the one hand, it would diminish once more the safety of our Atlantic supplies and reduce our whole munition-making power. On the other hand it would facilitate an attempt and improve the chances of a Nazi invasion. The Axis and Japan have only one means of finishing the whole war in their favour by a single stroke—a deadly blow at the heart of Britain.”

Mr Garvin concludes: “The moral is plain. The unshaken strength of the English-speaking Powers in the Western Hemisphere is at present the only solid and sure basis of all their present and further measures for grappling with Japan. That indispensible basis must be held intact and unshaken. Command of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and, with the military power of the Empire forces, in Africa and the Middle East, must be held at all costs for the coming purposes of the new Asiatic conflict, which is no less a battle to the death. “The Australians must see, in spite of the inexpressible bitterness and menace of the immediate situation for them, that their sure and certain hope of effective relief and final salvation lies in the immense' resources of the Western Allies and in the continued security of the Western foundations.”

BROADCAST POSTPONED

FOLLOWING ON MEDICAL ADVICE. MR CHURCHILL SUFFERING FROM HEAVY COLD . LONDON, January 26. Mr Churchill will not broadcast as had been previously arranged. This course has been taken on medical advice, as he has not yet recovered from a very heavy cold. He hopes to broadcast at an early date. AUSTRALIAN AIRMEN EAGER TO FIGHT JAPANESE. LONDON, January 25. The.. “Daily Express” reveals that Australian pilots of the R.A.F. stationed in Britain want to return home to deal with the Japanese. They are urging the authorities to release them. They feel that the enormous expansion of the Fighter Command makes it possible for their squadrons to be spared to fight where the battle is hottest and where they could supply just that backbone of experience that is needed for fighting the Japanese. Many of the Australian pilots say they are ready to take any chance to get to the Pacific, by flying and even by stoking cargo vessels. The Air Ministry declines to comment. The Australian Government controls the Australian air force squadrons who are at present operating.