PATIENT POLICY PURSUED

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21534, 24 September 1941, Page 4

PATIENT POLICY PURSUED

Finding herself plunged into an almost world-wide war at a time when she was more or less disarmed, Britain was faced with the greatest problem in her history. Infinite patience and effort were necessary to draw all the threads together, devise means of holding her far-flung Empire intact while she built up her strength and finally to marshal her resources for victory. For two years that process has been going on, and the task is not yet completed. Hitler has been praying for some rash act on the part of Britain that would give him an opportunity to disrupt the steadily strengthening ring that has been closing about Germany. Britain had to hold on. She simply could not plunge in and end the war quickly. Therefore she set down a blockade about Germany’s domains, she protected her outlying strong points, she secured the aid of the United States and then she settled down under conditions of unparalleled difficulty to build up her fighting strength. But the ring of defences could not enclose Germany entirely. Submarines, aeroplanes and the fifth column were abroad and had to be countered. The Battle of the Atlantic became the most vital phase of the whole fight for democracy. These things had to be dealt with first lest Hitler should succeed in disrupting the steadily closing ring. No great nation fighting for its life has ever been called upon for an equal measure of patience and restraint. To send such strength as Britain had into unrestricted battle would have meant disaster, and the British public at heart knows that is so. This war must be a long and cruel struggle in which staying power will decide the issue. The natural inclination is to go out after the enemy and smite him. Fortunately, the Navy has been able to indulge that inclination fully. The sea is .Britain’s domain when war comes, and happily the strength is available to maintain its comparative freedom. The public is crying out for similar action on land, but is the public competent to say that this or that military action should be undertaken when it has very incomplete knowledge of the forces available on both sides and generally of the risks and the opportunities involved ? Britons always blame themselves for being unimaginative blunderers, but the fact remains that the British have always won their wars, and they will win again. The hour and the ability to strike will come; many people hope they will arrive in time to aid Russia.