“Great and Decisive Events”

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 206, 29 August 1942, Page 5

“Great and Decisive Events”

Important Decisions Felt Imminent (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) Received Friday, 8 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 26. With Mr. Churchill not only safely back from his fourth hazardous wartime journey, but already hard at work, there is a general expectation throughout London that important decisions are imminent. No competent observer here soeks to conceal the stark truth that the miutaiy situation confronting all the united nations is serious and does not show any immediate sign of getting better. But to admit the gravity of our position is no indication of faint-heartedness. Certainly Mr. Churchill does not show depression after his journeyings; he looks in the pink of condition and radiates confi dence. Here is the nation’s leader fresh from the desert battlefield, where he viewed at first hand the military position, and from war-torn Russia and secret Moscow conferences, where presumably Stalin did not hold back information about Russia’s ability to continue resistance against the Nazis and strike back. His reaction, as he told a Paddington station bystander, was that he was refreshed rather than tired, which, coupled with his Cairo reference to forthcoming 4 1 great and decisive events,’’ should engender throughout the united nations the same sober confidence Mr. Churchill told Cairo correspondents he felt. But confidence cannot be sustained by words alone. That is why the popular demand for action continues, 'n the Times remarks: “Neither the Deippe dress reheasal, nor the progressive bombings of western nerve centres of Nazi war production, has relieved the continuing sense of an inadequacy in British military achievement at a time when our Russian allies face the supreme crißis—a sense which translates itself in a demand not for premature or ill-considered action, but for strengthening of our military organisation and its better adaption to meet present emergencies.’’ Some observers express the opinion that a radical overhaul of Britain’s supreme war direction is likely to follow Mr. Churchill’s homecoming, with General Wavell again emerging from the comparative obscurity of the India

command to occupy a prominent place. The fact that General Wavell accompanied Mr. Churchill to Moscow is regarded as significant. Mr. Churchill will give the first account of his journeyings to the House of Commons after the summer recess. The Prime Minister will be unable to give much detailed information about the secret conferences in which he was engaged, but he will jvcscat a general account of those events and probably review the general war situation in the light of the personal knowledge gained during the tour, and announce changes—if any. Mr. Churchill is reported to be particularly impressed by the Russiansindomitable determination to fight on at all costs —a determination which he found inspired by a profound and unquenchable hatred of the enemy. The Russians certainly need that inspiration. The battle for Stalingrad has worked up to a climax this week

after more than a fortnight’s bloody delaying action westwards of the Don River elbow, which has cost both sides dearly. Von Bock obviously realises his tired armies—they have advanced some 300 miles fighting continuously since early in May—will be unable to maintain the pace indefinitely. Therefore he has thrown in everything available for a supreme blow aimed at over-running the lower Volga area, thereby hoping to crown one of the mightiest offensives throughout history. Preceded by a concentrated blitz, in which the Luftwaffe was employing at least 3000 planes from the south-west, the German spearheads are within 35 miles of the city, the loss of which will be the most serous blow-Russia has yet Suffered and would intensify the need for counter-action from Britain and America.