“EMPIRE LULLED INTO A FALSE SECURITY”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 299, 19 December 1941, Page 5

“EMPIRE LULLED INTO A FALSE SECURITY”

BRITISH PRESS COMMENT

BATTLE OF MALAYA EMPHASISES NEED FOR GREAT ALLIANCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Cupyi.jrht.) (.lived. 11.43 p.m.) London. Dec. 17. Anxiety and anger about the batth of Malaya, prompted by eriticisin from Australia, i-unlinu*’s to he featurid in the British newspapers, aeeompanied by a growing demand that "heads must fall.” “Most comment is based, not on the unfavourable progress of tin lighting, but on the way the Umpire lias been lulled into a false sense of security by the military authorities, who, in turn, declare that Australia itself must share the blame, particularly as Sir Earle Pag*. Australian Minister in London, and Sir Thomas Blarney. ('omnia tider-in-t 'hi< ' of tin \ust ralitm Imperial I'oree. and others issued glowing statements pay ng tribute to Singapore's impregnability and tin gin* high el'ticii-ney of Malaya's defences. The feeling among London newspapers is epitomised by the following extract from tin Daily Express:—

“Japan's blows against America are intended to distract. The real business is with British possessions and Singapore- Japan relies on her own ixiwer to keep American sea and air reinforceinciiU away. Britain’s Ninth Army is waiting tor Hitler to conn* through Turkey. Britain has deckled between saving the Persian oilwells from Germany or the East Indies oil from Japan, but the decision is no longer for Britain alone, it is a joint problem for a great alliance- The Power best placed to strike must strike with all the force of its arms, and all the energy and sacrifice of its people.” It is reported in London that parallel conversations are taking place in Washington and Moscow between high officers of Britain, Russia, and the United States. The Lord Privy Seal. Mt. Attlee, speaking in the House of Commons today about the creation of an Allied War Council, said that all steps were being taken to ensure the utmost cooperation in the fields of strategy and supply. A message from Washington state* that President Roosevelt, replying to a question regarding the co-ordination of military commands among the Allies, said that this was coming along very well.

An offit .al Chinese statement issued in Chungking urged the A.B.C.D. Power* to pool all their military, naval, and air strength and material resources and to establish a unified general staff and a transjiort and supply set vice to light Japan. The Times’ diplomatic correspondent says Britain is (juickly developing imI Mtant c >nta<-ts in Washington and Moscow for Fae purpose of securing full Allied co-ordination. All the Allies recognise the need for unity in strategy and resources. The precise form of co-ordination cannot yet he discerned. Wide, regional conferences will probably come first. They could later be moulded into a complete plan. At present, while moulders are planning and constructing in many Allied countries little ought to be said, but in the British view the Allies' need for unity is greater than their cnemi<*' need. Their enemies can still proj are n.o\es in advance, striking against any one of us without warning. We ought, therefore, to be read} to move our forces immediately in the h »ur of emergency. The enemy holds the inner ring and has shorter distances between factories and battlefields The great distances over wtiich the Allie*’ materials must be transported has increased the need for de-

ciding whose men and whose supplies should he sent and to which zone. That appeal* to be the broad scheme which