The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5. 1939. "TIME IS ON OUR SIDE"

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20112, 5 December 1939, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5. 1939. "TIME IS ON OUR SIDE "

“ibis war is going to be a grim uusmess, but time is on our side.” ibis statement made by Mr. Malcolm .iiacDonald in an address the other day might well be accepted as the keynote of the attitude of the Allied peoples towards the war. The unreality of the military operations, the seeming inactivity of the opposing forces, tends to militate against a sufficiently serious view being taken of the situation and leads, also, to a certain amount of impatience. A desire to “get things done,” to force the issue, is understandable, but there can be no possible excuse for failing to realise the seriousness of modem warfare. This war is a “grim business.” That is the first point that must be forced home. When there is a tendency to ponder over the enormous amount of preparation and organisation that has been carried out without, in the meantime, any definite result, it is necessary, also, to recall what has happened in Poland and is now happening in Finland. The people of these countries need no reminder of the grimness of war and those who, so far, have been more fortunate should remember that it is only their preparedness and sacrifice that have saved them from a similar fate, They can secure permanent immunity only by carrying on with the struggle until all threats of aggression have been finally removed and the first requisite to this determination is a frank recognition of the sternness of the task that lies ahead.

The last thing that should be permitted is for the present inactivity to lead to complacency and a false sense of security. The real test belongs to the future and the manner in which that test will be met will depend upon the spirit in which preparations are made. To a large extent it is still a “war of nerves” and it is more necessary than ever that the people should steel themselves to await the issue with patience and courage. From the outset they have been warned to prepare for a conflict lasting for some years, but what they have not been led to expect is the comparative paucity of decisive results. In this respect, however, the Allies are infinitely better off than their opponents for the German people have been fed on the belief that their Fuehrer has only to speak in order to secure all that he wants. To them the disillusionment must be severe and If the patience of the Allies is being strained that of the Germans must be nearing breaking point. In this respect, as in others, the Allies are one step, at least, ahead of the enemy and in a war of attrition such as this one threatens to be it will certainly not be the morale of the Allies which will be the first to collapse. While, therefore, it is necessary to recognise that the war is a “grim business,” there is consolation in the knowledge that it is even more grim for the other side. “Every month that passes,” said Mr. MacDonald, “we grow stronger, whereas the opposite is true of Germany.” Here lies the explanation of his statement that “time is on our side.” This point, in particular, should be underlined, for full appreciation of it’s truth will provide whatever stimulus is necessary to patient waiting. The first point, already made, is that the psychology of the Allies better fits them for the trials of siege warfare. From the material point of view the situation is still more encouraging. For years, the whole economy of Germany has been directed towards preparation for war. In the production of munitions and in the training of men the peak of her efficiency has already been passed and now, owing to the toll of her campaigns and the curtailment of her supplies, it must obviously be diminishing. On the other hand, “every month that passes we grow stronger” It is only now that the Allies are reaping the benefits of their war effort in the production of munitions and the training of manpower and their strength and efficiency can be increased almost indefinitely. For these reasons “time is oh our side,” and the longer it is possible to stave off the real clash the more certain will the Allied victory be and the less heavy will be its cost. The patience which is the chief thing now demanded will be amply rewarded.

War, with its many intricate moves, bears some resemblance to a game of chess, but there is the one important difference that there can be no stalemate. Another difference as that, on the Allied side, there is no time limit within which a move must be made. The Germans, however, do not share this advantage because ,for their part, long continued inaction is impossible and the longer action is delayed the more serious will its consequences become. The secret of such successes as the Nazis have won has been the “lightning war" and surprise moves. A lightning war is no longer possible and the chances of surprises are diminishing every day. * This means

that when Germany is forced into action it will be in a manner contrary to her policy and in conformity with the plans of the Allies. As M. Daladier said the other day, the Allies can avoid launching a large-scale offensive, but Germany must, sooner or later, take the initiative, and it will not be a well-planned attack but an attack of desperation, or what M. Daladier referred to as a “mad offensive.” This ■s what the Allies are waiting for—an attack that is dictated not: by choice but by circumstances which render further inaction impossible. Every month that passes sees the Allies more prepared for that attack and Germany less capable of launching it with any hope of success, and for this reason it is possible to say with every confidence that “time is on our side.”