Will WIN WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21415, 8 May 1941, Page 8

Will WIN WAR

BATTLE OF ATLANTIC | HELP FROM AMERICA MR CHURCHILL’S MESSAGE (Official Wireless) (Received May 8, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, May 7 In his speech in the House of 1 Commons, Mr Winston Churchill, I turning to the Battle of the Atlantic, said the test of success was the number of tons of imports to Britain in any given quarter in any given year. “At present we are maintaining great traffic, though with heavy loss,” he said. “Great progress has been made with meeting the losses by new building, repairs and accelerating the turnabout, but there is still much to be done. With the continued flow of assistance which has already been promised us by the United States we can probably maintain our minimum essential traffic during 1941. As for 1942, we must look for the immense construction of merchant ships by the United States. “This is already in full swing and within the last month I have received an assurance of the construction of merchant vessels by the United States which, added to our own programme of building and repair, should see us through the year. The year of 1943, if we have to endure it as a year of war, will present easier problems. “The United States patrol took a considerable part of the Atlantic ocean off British hands, but a good deal more help is needed. It is not for a British Minister to forecast, still less prescribe the policy of the United States. Hitler Fears America “When a mighty democracy of 130,000,000 gets on the move one can only await the full deployment of this vast psychological gravitation and its translation into the physical field. “Anyone can see Hitler’s fear of the United States in the fact that he did not declare war upon them long ago.” Mr Churchill said he had never underrated the gravity of the difficulties and problems facing Britain. He felt that she is fighting for her life from day to day, hour to hour. He recalled that it was nearly a year ago that France collapsed, and spoke of Hitler’s expectations then, adding that Hitler little knew that ten months later he would be “appealing to the much-tried German people to prepare themselves for war in 1942.” No Need to Fear Mr Churchill concluded, amid loud cheering: “When I look back upon the perils which have been overcome, the great mountainous waves through which the gallant ship has been driven, when 1 remember also all that has gone wrong, I feel sure that we have no need to fear the tempest. Let it roar, let it rage. We shall come through.”