LONG ROAD TO VICTORY

Evening Star, Issue 24287, 31 August 1942, Page 2

LONG ROAD TO VICTORY

THREE YEARS OF WAR ADDRESS BY HON. A. HAMILTON “ The United Nations are in no mood tor peace; wo are determined to go on until victory is achieved,” said the Associate Minister of Supply and Munitions, Hon. Adam Hamilton, iu the course of a broadcast address last night. The subject of Mr Hamilton’s address was 1 Three Years of War.’ It was not very pleasant to look at a map of Europe at the present time, Mr Hamilton said. Neither was it pleasant to look at the maps of the other theatres of war. In North Africa, in Eastern Europe, and in the Pacific the military situation was dangerous and menacing. “ In view of these facts,” he asked, “is there any justification for the hope for ultimate victory of the United Nations? There most certainly is. We started l with too few fighting men and too little equipment, and for a period we stood alone, but now we have great Allies who are well equipped with the weapons of war. and with great forces at their disposal.” Mr Hamilton said that, although the Germans had driven hard into Russia, the Red army was still a great fighting force, notwithstanding the devastation of the Soviet’s agriculture and industry. The Germans, however, could not go on squandering men as they had been doing, and the Allies had vast resources at their disposal. In addition, the embers of revolt were smouldering in the occupied countries of Europe. Referring to the part being played bv the United States, Mr Hamilton said that those who knew anything of that country’s history did not have to bo told that the Americans could fight. If they did not know it before, they knew it now as tho result of the American victories at Midway Island, the Coral Sea, and in tho Solomons. Tho British people, too, were in a fighting temper, and would not let up until victory was won. “ Because we all realise the great significance of the struggle we are engaged in,” Mr Hamilton continued, “we are determined to win.” In the last three years they had learned many lessons, and they realised that the war could not be won unless they were all prepared' to make a supreme effort. “ There will be no short cut to victorv,” he said. “No one can say just how long the war is likely to last; it may end sooner than can reasonably be expected, but prudence instructs us to act as if the war was only just beginning. We have made many mistakes, and wo may make more, but we must not under-rate the strength of tho enemy, or, on tho other hand, expect miracles. On thing is certain, and that is wo can lose unless we are resolute and dogged until the last battle is won.” In conclusion. Mr Hamilton emphasised that New Zealand’s fighting men “ have done too well for us to let them down. Our men have been truly splendid, but every effort will bo required on the part of the people of this country to sustain them.”-