The Times THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1942. War Enters Fourth Year

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 210, 3 September 1942, Page 4

The Times THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1942. War Enters Fourth Year

*Hky * y the third anniversary of the momentous date on which the Empire went to war, the second Armageddon within a generation—a war fought by Britain and her Empire with no illusions as to what the ordeal might involve. The gloomiest of the prophecies, however, have not been realised, nor are they likely to be. For example, the onslaught expected by the Nazi air force at the moment war broke out and the casualties that would surely result did not come to pass. It is well to recollect this fact.

Certainly the course of the war as it has run these three e\ cntiul years has brought seemingly endless and mighty surprises, many of most upleasant import; as many that have been the cause of great relief. Some unexpected bounties have been vouchafed us.

Now at this juncture it is seemly to have a stocktaking—a kind of annual balance. A matter of first importance to be recorded “on the books” is that oi morale—our own and the Umpire's. Nowhere is the question raised as to whether or not we shall win. The universal question is: When? Tnere is thus evidenced a complete faith in victory. This is of itself a healthy sign, the more so in practical effect, because there is associated therewith an impatience of the lack of progress so far recorded on the road to victory.

From time to time, one “authority” or another, somewhere about the world, voices the opinion that “the war will last ten years.” Those with memories for their school history lessons will recall that most of Europe once engaged in a Thirty Years’ War, that the Napoleonic Wars lasted 20 odd years, and even that there was once a Hundred dears’ War between England and France. At the other end of the scale, however, there was once a mere Sis Weeks’ War and with many of just a few months’ duration. Then it is natural for the gauging of this war’s duration to be made from that of the World War of 1914-18 which lasted four' years and three months. For this to be of a similar duration, we should require to gain victory in fifteen months from now, which -would bring us to November 1943, the beginning of a second European winter from now.

It would be possible for that date to see the end of this war. Few, however, can see much prospect of that, not with the leeway to be made up, from our present situation. Therefore a large measure of accord is given to the estimate that there are still three years to go before victory is achieved. The suggestion of another ten years of strife has been roundly condemned by one or two noted publicists. It deserves to be. Neither an individual nor a nation can hurry up for ten years on end. It is needful —it is the only sound and sensible policy—to hurry up along the road to victory. War conditions are totally distorting life for the vast, majority of mankind, and an end to this should be put as soon as possible. *

Viewed as a complete picture, the Empire’s war effort is not one to be ashamed of. It is rapidly becoming a total war effort. Indeed, it has been rather unbalanced by our national enthusiasm for the cause; by our faith in the slogan: “Every fit man into khaki!” Thus too many soldiers have been created and industry ”‘0 greatly depleted. Unfortunately the lesson appears not yet to have been learned to judge from Rt. Hon. J. Cl. Coates’s statement us Minister for War made last week. Certainly the fullest use must be mads of the Dominion’s manpower and womanpower also. Uut all must bo in balanced proportions—a state yet to be achieved. New Zealand now has a rather different role to play than that of the war of 1914-18. To-day we have become a great base for an offensive. Our food production is of greater consequence than it w-s 25 years ago. We have, furthermore, a vastly greater task to perform in manufacturing both needful civilian goods and munitions and armaments. An additional further requirement is against the contingency of attack upon our own soil.

To minimise the trials of the road ahead would be giving raise counsel. Yet some satisfaction can be gained from a contemplation of the enemy’s worries. The enemy of supreme consequence, the Nazi, hoped much of his blitzkreig—the lightning war. Hopes of early victory have now been dashed—indeed, any assurance of victory must now have been extinguished. High hopes fallen are bad medicine for morale.

The road ahead will he hard. But possessed of the will as we are, and of the material power of production so preponderant, victory can he held as certain. Already signs are manifest of offensive strength mounting daily. How far away is the hoped-for day of peace depends upon the vigour of the effort. An all-in effort for a speedy victory may well be our watchword—for New Zealand, for every individual citizen, and for the Allied world and peoples.