COURSE OF THE WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 7

COURSE OF THE WAR

I FAILURE OF GERMAN I EFFORTS SOVIET AND ITALIAN VISITS HAVE NOT MATERIALISED NAZIS MAY STRIKE SWIRLY AND HARD [ British Official Wireleai. I RUGBY, Oct. 29. The London weekly journals summarise the position of the war to date and mm a diversity of speculations as to the future course of the | hostilities. The Economist recalls that the German Air Minister, Field-Marshal Goering’s own journal has forecast a war raining down on the British Isles, and it comments: "The war we expected may be coming. Nothing, however, can alter the fact that the Reich has had only small success so far. “For the Allies the war has gone well and according to plan. The contraband control, the rooting-out of Idboats, the mobilisation of two armies on the Western Front, the loyally of Turkey and the enemy's continued lack of allies —all these, when set beside the promise of vast aid from the Empire symbolised by the meeting ol the Dominion Ministers in London this week, amply justifies the confidence of the speeches broadcast in the past few days by our War Minister, Mr. L. Uore-Belisha and the Dominions Secretary, Mr. Anthony Eden.’’ “It was the Allies who picked up economic warfare as the aptest instrument to penetrate the Reich defences. It would seem that the enemy has duly accepted the challengers' choice of weapons. “The German attacks on the British Fleet, the lynchpin of the Allies stranglehold on German commerce, have so far failed, and the convoyea merchant ships have proved safe against the Nazis’ U-boats and bombers. Now a third weapon is at work —the last armed raioer. The full force of the enemy’s attack above and below water has still to be developed. In Europe the parallel trade offensive to clamp the neutrals in the German block is going on. Russia’s Doubtful Policy. "Neither facet of the Reich's economic warfare reuects mum success. l'he captured American vessel, City I of Flint, had to be taken by tne captor to a Russian port because tne up-I proaches to Germany were barren.j rhe wisned-for hegemony of European trade can neither knoc.c out Bmain nor till up the gaps in Germany's supplies. Nor, indeed, do the neutrals want it.' The Spectator says: “A week ago conlideni predictions came from Berlin of an impending visit to Germany of the Russian Prime Minister am. Foreign Commissar, m. Molotov, ana the Italian Foreign Munster, Count Ciano, lor conversations of tne first i moment wlucn would result in the ' u-sue of a triparte declaration no less I momentous. The visits have not been paid and the declaration lias not materialised, nor is there the least prospect mat it win. “Tne intentions ot Rome and Moscow as proclaimed from Berlin are now rarely identical with the intentions of Rome and Moscow as evident by Italian and Russian action—or, as in this case, inaction. “Indeed, Herr Hitler, who initiated the war, has already lost initiative. He also has lost ail nis potential allies with th: doubtful but admittedly important exception of Russia. No Facile Optimism. “Neither his submarine nor aerial attacks have produced results calculated to dismay us or to grainy mm, tne Spectator continues. "ine winter that is now setting in will ran with far Heavier vigour on tne Germans in tne Siegfried c.ne tnan on the Allies ill me Maginot Line, ana equally on me German population at nome than on the Frencn ana British. "The immense enorts for wmen mt British Dominions are preparing navi oareiy begun to make tnemseivaj id l, and me amendment of the Neutrality Bill in the United States will open our access to almost inexhaustible supplies of munitions. “But, while all this is true, it does not justify any sort ot facile optimism. Herr Hiuer is in full control ol the German people. He has now given up all hope of a bloodless victory, and, since he cannot force a protracted war, he may striae swiltiy and hard. The civil and military conferences in Berlin this week suggest that. The war may well be about to enter another and stern phase. By land, sea, and air as well as in the diplomatic Held, ail the advantages appear to be with the Allies, but it must be recognised that the victory will only be uougnt by heavy sacrifice." The New Statesman says: "The wai in tne west is so far little more than a mutual blockade. Whether the Nazi mentality can long maintain a defensive war such as the British and French envisage, wc have yet to see. The violent speech of the German Foreign Minister, Herr von Ribbentrop, may herald a change. Or it may not. Herr Hitler is a cautious and crafty enemy, and his air marshals and generals may not wish to risk a boomerang throw. There is at least a chance ot a further period of prudence, of manoeuvres to the accompaniment of mainly economic hostilities.” Offensive Next Spring; Time and Tide says: “There has been much guessing as to what Heir Hitler's next move will be. A big offensive in the west would seem out of the question this year. Even now the weather has made military operations almost impossible. is widely believed thaj. there will be an aerial offensive against the British naval bases, docks, and shipping. Such beliefs are purely speculative. So far General Goering’s much vaunted air force has not been very impressive, and, unit tor unit, it would appear to be much inferior to the R.A.F.

“The general prospect would seem to be that for the rest of 1939 th< winter will be used for intense preparation by Germany, consolidating, and perhaps extending her eastern conquests in the meantime. It does' not look as though the war will begin in real earnest until the spring."