UTMOST VIGOUR PROMISED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 99, 21 January 1943, Page 5

UTMOST VIGOUR PROMISED

Maintaining Initiative WAR ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUTLOOK

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 19

In a statement on the war situation made in tlie House of Commons, Mr. Attlee, Deputy-Prime Minister, said that though during the two montiis since Mr. Churchill's full statement on Armistice Day there had been nothing so dramatically unexpected as the landing in North Africa, they could view tlie close of 1942 with sober satisfaction and look forward to 1943 with justifiable confidence. The striking contrast between the fourth January of the war and its predecessors was that everywhere the initiative had passed into the hands of tlie United Nations.

Pride of place should be given to tin' wonderful achievement of the Russian armies. Their remarkable feat, maintained on a long front to a depth sometimes of 180 miles in winter, would surely take its place in history as an outstanding achievement. "It has often been heard that the Russians are very good fighters, very brave, but no good at organization and incapable of staff work,” Mr. Attlee said. “What absolute nonsense that proved to be I Everyone, recalling the immense amount of preparatory work required to stage a great offensive realizes what lay behind these great victories.” Advance in Africa.

Referring to North Africa, Mr. Attlee said that there had been criticism of the pause iu operations to drive the Axis from Libya, but that Rommel's record of retreat had begun again. There was a certain strategy in the warfare iu those areas. "The spring is coiled, the blow is struck and the spring must -be recoiled before tlie next blow is possible. Un Friday General Montgomery struck again. We cannot tell where Rommel will elect to stand,” Mr. Attlee added. “Our objective is the total destruction of the enemy in North Africa. The time will come when there is nowhere further for him to go.”

Mr. Attlee also paid a tribute to tlie Fighting French forces under General Leclerc.

In Tunisia the lull hud naturally caused disappointment, but the House should recall three tilings. First, the great distances; secondly, the weather, which made movement practically impossible lor tanks mid wheeled vehicles; thirdly, the serious defect in the provision of airfields and thus iu the effectiveness of the Allies air forces. Also, the enemy had very short communications and those of the Allies were verv long. They had every confidence in General Eisenhower and the men of the Allied forces. .

'l’lie French civil authorities were cooperating fully with the Allied forces, and the French workers alongside the Allies _ , Dealings with French.

“There has been discussion, more in the American Press than ours, of alleged differences of opinion about the It reach, he said. "It is understandable that the French should not appear to us in the same light as to the Americans. We were nearer the crisis of .1911), which presented a mortal danger to us before the Americans came into the war.” Britain fully appreciated the advantage of maintenance by the United Slates ol relations with the Government of .Marshal Petain. Thev recognized that the contacts established there were an advantage while they lasted and bore fruit at the time of the operations. The political preparations tn Algeria and Morocco were a very important part, of Hie operations and contributed to rapid success. . . Mr. Attlee added that a spirit ol the greatest, harmony continued among the British and American members o General Bisen ho wer’s joint stall, wnicu was a good augury for future operations, bi the political Held the two Governments had a single objective——to promote the unity of all Frenchmen in the war against the Axis for the liberation of France, and to help toward this Mr. MacMillan had been appointed Resident Minister at Allied Headquarters. "We welcome the appointment ol General Giraud as High Commissioner and are glad that the British forces are associated in comradeship with Hie I' relict) forces under his command." he said "We owe a great debt to General de Gaulle for his bold and uncompromising assertion of French resistance. and ooK forward to tin- day. and shall do our best to assist it. when the whole French Empire, steadfast mid united round a single authority on French soil, can join the United Nations in the common effort to break down the power of the enemy and achieve the liberation of France. Danger From Rahaul. Mr, Attlee noted other encouraging tilings in "this far-flung theatre of war. lie said, “We should lie wrong to minimize the dangers that still exist in the Fur East. We have got a very determined and highly skilful enemy, but can surely see it great difference in the position since a .vein - ago.’ . Replying to the members who asked iibout Ihe reported accumulation ot Jal’’ anese forces near New Guinea. Mr. Attlee said: "We are conscious that thei"! are forces al Rahaul. but the United Nations are taking every step Io deal with Ihe menace. ’’ Il was with that aucumulation of forces in mind that he, had said there wire dangers in tin- I'ar I',list. Speaking of llie recent Berlin raids, he said: "We shall continue Io press <m these titlarks. (•oni-oiilriited on those targets which are most effective in bringing Hie eneinv down.’’ . UoiK'ludiiig. Mr. Attlee said it nils resolve of Hie Government, in the closest cii-operiilioo with all the Allies, to strike Hie eneinv bv land, sen and air everywhere with Hie utmost vigour mid determination.