GERMAN-RUSSIAN COLLABORATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 7

GERMAN-RUSSIAN COLLABORATION

* THE IMMEDIATE GOAL DEfTTR UCTION OF BRITISH EMPIRE L Br itish Official Wireless ] Received Jan. 5, 8.30 p.m. RUGBY, Jan. 4. | Major-General Sir Ernest Swinton, jin a weekly broadcast, said: “The (most striking feature of events of the j new year on the Continent has been the further disastrous setbacks suffered by the Russians north of Lake Ladoga and on the Karelian Peninsula. I use the word setback advisedly, because unless the defenders receive some sort of help from outside they cannot for ever go on .resisting Ihe endless hordes which are bound to be hurled against them.” Referring to the report that Stalin had appealed to Hitler to supply him with German technicians. Sir Ernest Swinton considered it would be true to foreshadow not only closer Gcr-iman-Russian rapprochement but even ; possibly joint action to gain control (of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries and eventually Holland and Belgium. “As far as I see things, however much the Germans and Russians may disagree between themselves in future, the immediate goal of both Hitler and Stalin is the destruction of I he British Empire, which is the chief : obstacle to the successful attainment of their ultimate ambitions,” said Sir Ernest. Turning to the position in the Allies’ theatre of war. he stated that the British anti-submarine forces had been trebled since the outbreak of war and the U-boats now were being driven further and further afield. The ( measures against enemy mine-laying i operations also were proving success- ’ ful and fewer vessels had been sunk (last week than in any week since the (beginning of the war—4699 tons of ; British and neutral merchant shipping was sunk. I The most significant factor in the jwar at sea was Hie slow but inexorable strangulation being applied to ; Germany's economic life. At the same dime, the safe arrival of the CanaIdian convoys, the Australian airmen '.and Indian troops and the large numj ber of merchant vessels in British ’ports proved that the British merchlant service was carrying on virtually (without interruption, while German ! merchant shipping was either capitured, scuttled, or immobilised. Concluding, Sir Ernest Swinton elaborated the theory that, engineering was the principal foundation upon [which modern warfare was based.