WAR PROBLEMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 June 1942, Page 4

WAR PROBLEMS

AND OUTLOOK FOR LATER DAYS GENERAL SIKORSKI’S SURVEY. HOPES FOR CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE. Following are significant excel pts published in the “Christian Science Monitor” from the report of the Com-mander-in-Chief of the Polish Forces and Premier of the Polish Govern-ment-in-Exile (General Sikorski) to the Polish National Council in London, on April 21. after his return from America: — On the East European Front, where the Germans and their allies have three-fourths of their forces engaged, likewise on the Libyan front, there is a comparative balance of strength. But there, especially in Russia, attacks aie being prepared on a large scale. The German offensive in North Afiica should begin before the approach of the season when extensive military activities are impossible. Rommel has no time to lose. ... At the same time on all the world seas a desperate struggle is going on, in which the Polish fleet is splendidly co-operating, to keep open the routes to the sources of raw materials. It is a bitter struggle. However, let us remember that the powerful American fleet is now only preparing to strike and that up to the present almost the entire burden of this struggle has lain on the British. The splendid R.A.F. offensive, in which Polish squadrons take an active part, will increase steadily as the supply of American equipment to Europe increases, and that is today insured. . . SECOND EUROPEAN FRONT Gigantic battles have already begun on the Eastern Front. Since they cannot take part directly in these, the United Nations must unquestionably and at all costs open a second European front. No difficulties must be allowed to stand in the way of doing this. The creation of such a front will have both political and strategical significance. . . In a period of temporary defeats we should remember that the Germans have not been victors either in England, Russia, or North Africa. On the other hand, in the fighting on' the Soviet Front they have lost their picked troops and great quantities of equipment. The question of man power is becoming desperate. No matter how great their efforts, they cannot solve this. In Russia they have lost more than 2,000,000 of their youthful fanatic soldiers, and they cannot create new Hitler divisions to bring them lightning victories. ... I had opportunity (in Washington) to assure myself that the United States has no intention of refusing to assume the responsibility resting upon it because of its vast power but will do its part in opposing chaos and anarchy after the war. In (Washington) conversations I stressed the necessity of taking the initiative out of the hands of the enemy and of concentrating the bulk of our strength in the most important theatres of war, likewise of the necessity of creating a United Nations Supreme Command, on which there would be representatives of the nations taking part in the war. . . . Our motorised corps, now ready in Scotland and under excellent leadership, must energetically prepare itself to perform the mission that will fall to it, a task equivalent to cutting through to our native land. . . . FEDERATIONS TO COME. In my conversations with President Roosevelt, Secretary of War Stimson, Under-Secretary of State Welles, and other American officials I met with complete understanding of Polish needs and the Polish position, not only for today but also for a great and sacred tomorrow, for which together with the people in Poland itself we are fighting ceaselessly and will fight to the end. . . . Stalin in his splendid speech of December 5, 1941, from the Kremlin spoke of the strength and power of the future Poland. . . . Conversations in Washington also had to do with the reconstruction of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular with the creation of a Central European Federation. Without the assurance of order and economic improvement in these regions there can be no talk of lasting peace. The federated blocs which will arise in this part of the world should be similar in structure to that of the United States. This should mean complete political, military, customs, and monetary union and joint economic planning for the entire region included in the federation. Only if States are joined in such a Union, working in co-operation with western federations, can control of Germany be assured. Otherwise, after our victory Europe will be menaced again by war in twenty-five years. I would like to call attention to the fact that a few days ago, for the first time in history, the number of our armed forces abroad exceeded 100,000.