The Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1944. Knowing the War is Lost

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 22 March 1944, Page 4

The Times WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1944. Knowing the War is Lost

In the course of this war four' great nations have come face to face with the possibility of defeat—Britain, Russia, Germany and Japan. In the ease of the first two a catastrophe has been averted and to-day they find themselves hot upon the scent of victory. In the case of the third, Germany, there has come but recently a realisation'of the inevitability of defeat. As for Japan, apparently as yet only intelligent Japanese have felt the fear that the war is lost. It is one thing to face defeat and quite another to accept it. It is now difficult to recollect how narrow is the margin that enabled Britain to survive. When France fell in June 1940 and the Nazi legions were everywhere dominating the Continent of Europe, 90 per cent, or more of neutral opinion believed that England could not survive beyond three months. The Battle of Britain then ensued, and not only did Britain survive but through the burning fires of that experience she went from strength to strength. During the two years from June 1941, Russia faced a similar trial. Firstly, when the Germans drove to within view of Moscow and again a year later when they drove to the Volga River, finally to have their sword-point broken at. Stalingrad. And now, as in the case of Britain, Russia has risen to new powers to drive back the enemy in an unbroken march of Such magnitude as almost to have killed her power to resist. A recent cable gave the opinion that the Germans had lost the war in Russia and with the growing might of the Allies elsewhere they must know that they are lost. Then the question was asked: Why did the Nazis fight on? The answer was that they hoped to lose the war in a way favourable to them for peacemaking. So to fight on is to wage a war of desperation and that involves a tremendous strain upon the morale of a nation. Doubtless the enemy will employ every trick of diplomacy in an endeavour to break Allied unity. The bogey of Bolshevism will be trotted out to Britons and Americans and then to the Russians will there be suggestions that their Allies are fighting this war with moneybags and not blood. Therefore, why not let Germany and Russia be at peace, probably accompanied with an offer to allow Russia to incorporate Poland within her borders. Yes, the Nazi will continue to fight hard, and meanwhile twist and turn in their struggle to escape from the iron net being drawn around them from east and north and south. How then stands Japan? Very different is her situation from that of Germany, for she has no enemies hammering at her borders. For however powerful her opponents may be they have come no nearer than about 3000 miles from the homeland. And then again, in contrast with Germany which has a memory of defeat in 1918, Japan has never in historic times known defeat. Such a tradition indoctrinated as a faith must give the Japanese at present considerable confidence in themselves. And any reverses as yet suffered can be disregarded by a people who have been told that their country is engaged in a great historical crusade—that Nippon is prepared to fight for 1000 years. The really able leaders of Japan probably have a very good idea of what their nation is up against. They may possibly know that the war is lost, but still refuse to believe it. Not until the Japanese homeland has received such a smashing and battering as Germany lias undergone and will yet undergo, will the Japanese too know that their war is lost. That day appears yet far distant, for so much ground has to be covered to reach the Island Empire that constitutes the homeland of 75,000,000 courageous people. The Pacific war cannot be lightly regarded.