“FATALISTIC CONCEPTION"

Evening Star, Issue 24287, 31 August 1942, Page 4

“FATALISTIC CONCEPTION"

PROPHECIES OF LONG WAR MR J. L. GARVIN'S HEALTHY CORRECTIVE ha- (Rec. 12.45 p.m.) ic LONDON, August 30. ig Prophets of a long-drawn-out war ),y wore attacked by Mr J. L. Garvin in at the ‘ Sunday Express.’ Some observers ;h regard bis criticism as a reply to the b- statements made by Sir Earle Page, •d who forecast the war to last 10 years. ;r Mr Garvin says: “Some witnesses r- neither uninformed nor irresponsible begin to speak of a seven years’ or a n ten years’ war. That fatalistic concep!y tion must be banished from our minds g and shunned like a. pestilence. That ,o vague notion of victory being indefin nitely deferred until 1950 or near it y would bring a creeping lethargy into t- democratic counsels. The war for the n world might end for the democracies in the dull catastrophe of stalemate. Not for a moment dare we stomach the theory of a dragging conflict. “ From now on war planning and war waging must have two definite objects: First, nothing less than absolute victory, both in arms and in peace; secondly, to shorten the war. If Russia holds for two months the United Nations can triumph within two years.” » ACTIVITY AT GIBRALTAR S’ 1 CIRCUMSTANTIAL AXIS REPORTS n (Rcc. 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 30. J Concurrent with reports from Stockholm that a German division is already going to Dakar to implement the German demands for stronger defence of West Africa, the Axis radio is playing up to reports of activity at Gibraltar. Rome radio says one transport alone landed 3,500 men at Gibraltar, and added that R.A.l<\ planes throughout the day were flying over Gibraltar, where coastal defence exercises are being carried out, large bodies of troops practising landings. Vichy radio quoted an Algeciras report to the effect that several British transports arrived at Gibraltar and landed 3,000 garrison reinforcements. Vichy also reported that Admiral Esteva, commander of the French forces at Tunis, arrived at Vichy and conferred with Retain and Laval, and that Goebbels arrived in Venice. The Vichy News Agency stated that a British convoy, comprising 26 merchantmen, left Gibraltar, sailing in the direction of the Atlantic. An Italian communique says that on the night of August 28 a small enemy unit attempted to land on the island of Cerigotto, between Kythera and Crete, but fled on the intervention of the defences. NOT AUTHENTICATED REPORTED BRITISH LANDING ON ISLAND NEAR CRETE | (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. noon.) RUGBY, August 30. Nothing is known in authoritative circles in London of an Italian report that a small British force landed on Kythera Island, north-west of Crete, on August 27. Such a force may have landed, but it is considered that the operation .would be of relatively minor importance. JEWS IN SLOVAKIA DEPORTATION WITHIN THREE MONTHS (Rec. 1 p.m.) ZURICH, Aug. 30. The Slovakian Government, at the request of Germany, has agreed to deport within three months the 20,000 Jews remaining in Slovakia. All Slovakian birth certificates are being examined! throughout the country to ascertain the owners’ racial origin. LEADING THE BOMBERS SPECIALLY TRAINED CREWS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 29. The Bomber Command now has anumber of crews known as “Pathfinders,” who have been trained and equipped to begin an attack exactly in the right place. They are all picked men who volunteered for the task of going in advance of the main force and finding and indicating the objective. Their navigation must be scrupulously accurate and their aim unerring. Pathfinders led the attack on Kassel last Thursday night, and also led the way to Nuremberg last night. Officci;s from Christchurch to Invercargill ’'attended the South Island Scouters’ conference held at Christchurch during the week-end (reports >, the ‘Press’). The business sessions of the conference were chiefly devoted to I iroblems of organisation and leadership, t jut opportunity was taken for several c social functions, at which the visitors 1 were able to meet informally. Among S the visitors were the Dominion chair- j man (Sir James Grose), the Chief Commissiouer (Mr Hector Christie), the 5 Dominion secretary (Mr D. A. Dale), gi and the Dominion Cub Commissioner e (Miss Nancy Wilson). After an offi- t cers’ dinner on Saturday evening a J rally was held in the Civic Theatre. The £ mayor (Mr .E. H, Andrews) welcomed 2 the Scouters and expressed appreciation ti of the wide service being rendered by d the movement. The Governor-General c! (Sir Cyril Newall) sent a personal mes- n sage to the conference. V