A LONG WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 September 1939, Page 7

A LONG WAR

PREPARATIONS IN BRITAIN PEOPLE SHOWING FINE SPIRIT. DEPRIVATIONS ACCEPTED CHEERFULLY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. September 17. Preparations for a long war are being made methodically by Britain, and all departments of State are organising their efforts on the basis of the conflict lasting three years or more. Particular attention is given in the Press to the part that will be played by the invisible pressure of the British blockade. It is recognised in all informed quarters that the Great War would have ended much sooner if the interception of goods destined for Germany had been made effective at an earlier date. "This time,” says the "Sunday Times." "Britain is starting where in the last war she left off. The new Ministry of Economic 'Warfare has all the former experience to work upon. It is helped by the fact that America shared in that experience and cannot but acquiesce in our doing now that she herself did then. “German likewise is starting the naval war where she left off last time. Her sinking of the Athenia was an act identical with those by which she outlawed herself in 1917, and made America a belligerent. Once more she had adopted ruthless submarine warfare. CONVOYS AND WARPLANES. “In the opening days, before the convoy system could be adopted, our shipping suffered inevitable losses, but from now onward that system will be working. More than anything else, it baffled submarines in 1918, and it may be expected to baffle them again. On the other side, our Navy’s resources for discovering and destroying the underwater enemy have been much increased by the progress of invention in the interval. “The longer war lasts the more important on both sides will the problem of supplies become.” Referring to the war in the air, the newspaper says: “The reply to that menace is air power and more air power. We have the plans already in working order to expand still further both our production of aeroplanes and our' training of pilots. This is on a, scale truly gigantic. But we cannot rest content while it is possible for us to do more.” OPERATIONS ON LAND. Regarding the war on land, the “Sunday Times” says: “Britain is committed now as in 1914-18 to a military effort in France. Now, as then, it is bound to grow larger from its small beginnings. Careful organisation and man power is essential to withstand the fourfold strain—navy, air force, army and munitions, besides civil defence —and for this the requisite Acts of Parliament, based on past experience, have already been passed. “The British public has accepted philosophically the prospect of a long war and has already adapted ftself to war time conditions which have profoundly altered its social life. The inconvenience of the first week of the war have already become commonplace and less hardship is now felt at the rigidity of the restrictions, which in some respects are in process of tious relaxation and in others are progressively increasing. “An example of the latter is to be experienced when next week the petrol rationing scheme becomes effective. It is offset to a large extent by the restoration of. many trains which were withdrawn during the days of strain while the four main railway companies tackled the heavy tasks of the evacuation period, the transport of food, and the movement of men and material on behalf of the .military authorities. One of the principal railway companies is able to announce the restoration, with few exceptions, of its normal services, and corresponding developments are occurring on other lines. “In the reception areas social workers are busily at work on new tasks looking after the interests of evacuees dnd in several parts of the country schools in such areas are being reopened for children on a two-shift basis. “In no field has the development of and public attitude toward wartime conditions been more marked than in that of entertainment, and the reopening of theatres and cinemas at night, except in the central London area, has had an immediate effect.