WAR WILL BE LONG AND HARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 292, 11 December 1941, Page 5

WAR WILL BE LONG AND HARD

AMERICA MUST FACE REALITY

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S REASONED APPEAL TO THE NATION

ißy Te’effraph—P .-<?•» Awoeiat.on—Copyright.) i Recd. 11.15 p.ui.) Washington. Dec. 9 Broadcasting. President Roosevelt said: "We must begin the great task that is before us. abandoning onei and for all. an illusion that we can ever again isolate ourselves from the rest of humanity." He said the news so far had been all bad. A serious setback had be> n suffered in Hawaii. Reports from Guam. Wake and Midway Islands were confused, but we must be prepared for an announcement that all had been seized.

Mr. Roosevelt rejected a rumour) from enemy sources claiming that the Japanese have naval superiority In the Pacific as the result of the attack on Hawaii. This was an old propaganda trick. “We had known for weeks that' Germany was telling Japan that she I would not share in the spoils after the war unless she attacked the United States. ’ he said. Germany promised Japan perpetual and full control of the Pacific, including a stranglehold on the west coast of North and South America. Germany and Japan are conducting military and naval operations in accordance with a joint plan. Germany and Italy, regardless of formal declarations, consider themselves at war against America. “We intend to eliminate Japan, but it would serve us ill if we then found the rest of the world dominated by Hitler and Mussolini. Japan's attack on America fits into the pattern of the Axis attempt at world domination

I I have not sufficient information ho state the exact damage to the Fleet as a result of the oombing of Pearl Harbour, but it is admittedly serious. I am unable to say how quickly repairs can be made to damaged units of the Fleet, hut the - i facts will not be concealed provided they do not give aid to the enemy.” i Mr. Roosevelt added: “America's i wartime policy was justified and gaini ed precious months to prepare del fences. The war will be long and hard The Pearl Harbour type of atjtack can be repeated on both oceans -,or coasts We shall need to demand i more money and materials and quad- • rupted production Lease-Lend aid I must be continued to reinforce other opponents of Japan and Germany. -There is no shortage of food, although ; there will be a definite shortage of I - many civ iiian commodities. ’ i "The United States can accept no : result but final and complete victory. V.'e are going to w in the war and win the peace.”