Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1940. DEMOCRACY VERSUS GANGSTERDOM.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1940. DEMOCRACY VERSUS GANGSTERDOM.

jty[UCII as Italy and her dictator have earned contempt and disgust by entering the war in the hope of plunder, the immediate effect of this addition, such as it is, to the totalitarian hordes no doubt must 'be to deepen, and intensify in some measure the problems of the Allies. These problems centre meantime in France, where means have yet to be found of halting the German'offensive which is a definite and deadly menace, not to Fi'ance only, but to all free nations. At time of writing the Germans are shown to be making some continued headway—in spite of the fierce resistance offered at all points by French and British troops and in spite, too, of the. valiant and tireless efforts of allied airmen over and behind the fighting front and in bombing and other attacks extended deeply into enemy territory—in a movement directed to the envelopment of Paris.

At what point the enemy onslaught can be stemmed decisively has, yet to appear. lie is shown to be suffering such losses as no army can endure for long. For example, a message dated on Sunday last stated that it was estimated in Paris that in the preceding five days the Germans had lost 1,000 tanks and suffered 400,000 casualties. With the main burden of necessity thrown for the time being on the French armies, though Britain is straining every nerve to increase her cooperating land and air forces, the Allies are acquitting themselves magnificently, but while the enemy is content and able to endure such losses as he has suffered of late, no doubt he is bound to make some territorial progress. It may be hoped and believed that even the isolation or loss of Paris need not in these circumstances imply that the Allies are menaced with defeat. No such dark prospect need be opened while France continues to justify, as she is justifying today, her Prime Minister’s proud declaration: ‘‘Nothing can weaken our will to fight for our land and our liberty.”

With affairs in this state, the speech by the President of the United States which was broadcast yesterday is of capital importance. In light of this speech it may be perceived that Mussolini is to be credited already with a measure of achievement, though by no means of the kind on which he was intent. In his policy of baseness, the Italian dictator has roused President Roosevelt to an impassioned and unqualified declaration, on behalf of the American nation, of wholehearted sympathy with ‘‘those beyond the seas who are maintaining with magnificent valour their battle for freedom.” It has been well said that there is a challenge neither Mussolini nor his master Hitler will know how to answer in the American President’s words: —

We will extend to the opponents of force the material resources of this nation, and simultaneously harness and speed up the use of these resources, in order that we will have the equipment and training equal to the task of any emergency and for every defence. All roads leading to the accomplishment of these objectives must be kept clear. I call for an effort of courage, sacrifice and devotion.

Grim and terrible as is the ordeal of war yet to be faced in France and perhaps in other fields of war, there is in this declaration by the leader of the world’s most powerful democracy, backed as it is by an overwhelming weight of American opinion, much to encourage jhe Allies and as much to assure the gangster dictators of their ultimate defeat and downfall.

Under the lead of President Roosevelt, which is winning increasingly the support even of his political opponents, the United States is committed to the policy in the first place of making its material resources available to the Allies and in the second of preparing to cope with any emergency that may arise. It is thus emphasised that if the Allies eaii but maintain the struggle in which thus far they have acquitted themselves so valiantly against terrible odds in material and men, they will not lack the means of proceeding from successful resistance to decisive victory. As was observed in a London message yesterday, the material resources of the United States, added to those of the Allies, may well prove to be a vital factor in the struggle against the forces of barbarism.