Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1941. A CRUCIAL YEAR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1941. A CRUCIAL YEAR.

FROM some correspondents in Europe and elsewhere, suggestions have point’ that Hitler, though he.had prepared lor and would have preferred a short war. will settle down ii necessary to fight a long: war. There are substantial reasons for doubting, however, whether Ihe freedom of choice here implied is in fact open to the German dictator. Although the fighting resources still at the disposal of Nazi Germany are immense, account has to he taken of (he extent to which these resources are being depleted by heavy demands of many kinds and are being cut down and circumscribed by the relentless British air attack and blockade. The total Axis position has been weakened and shaken also by the crushing blows inflicted on Italy and by the strong likelihood that these blows represent only a beginning of what is going to happen to Hitler s unhappy jackal partner. There is on the whole a good deal to he said for the opinion expresseil by the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr .Mackenzie King) in a broadcast address reported briefly yesterday, that 1941 is a crucial year and that “the hour is near when the enemy, with ruthless ferocity, may be expected to gather all his strength and strike.’’ One of the greatest of Imperial statesmen. General Smuts, has also expressed the opinion that Hitler, on account of his initial failure against Britain and the disaster that lias befallen Italy, will probably seek a decision jn 1941. There is much point in General Smuts s lurlher observations; that if Hitler is going to stake his remaining hopes on a successful invasion of Britain there can be no object in delaying the attempt. I presume that Hitler is fully prepared (General Smuts added). The British war effort is growing rapidly and behind that expansion is the immense effort of the United States of America to provide Britain with war supplies. The longer the invasion is delayed the stronger the certainly of defeat will become. Therefore he will fight as soon as possible. It may bo very soon in the New Year. Prom whatever angle the total war situation is surveyed, these contentions appear io carry great weight and it is unlikely that thev are in any degree invalidated by the announcement today of the withdrawal of the Italian air forces which have been taking part in attacks on Britain and the dispatch of German air forces to assist Italy in the Mediterranean. It seems improbable that tlm Nazis can find in any secondary activity or in the most intensive development ol thiyl -boat campaign, or the night bombing <»l‘ British cities, an elleetive mums ol strengthening their position for the major lighting test in which the !'at<‘ of the war must finally be decided. Is is true that Britain and her allies are still siiiiering heavily from the efTrets of tin* 1 boat campaign, but this Ims no! prevented a rapid relative growth in Britain s military strength and resources. Dreadful as they are in themselves, the effects of the indiscriminate night bombing of British ehi>-s iire not to he compared in military effect with the me! limlieal and expanding attacks of the Royal Air l ? <>rce on enemy military ami industrial objectives. It is one of the cardinal tacts of the war that whether Germany does or does not stake her hopes in the near future on another attempt to invade Britain, site most certainly will be attacked with increasing power in her own territory and in the lands she has occupied. Not vers - long ago. it seemed likely that Germany might seek an alternative field of aggression ami means of weakening Britain by diverting strong forces to the Mediterranean, by way of ihe Balkans and perhaps by other routes as well. In their direct and indirect eifecls, however, the detents siHLWe.i by Italv have done a good deal to rob of its al t rael ions, from the tiermail standpoint, offensive action on a large scale in ihe Mediterranean regions. In an attempt to reach Syria, Germany would have to cope with resolute opposition by Turkey, as well as by Britain and Greece and it is by no means certain that the Nazis could coitiil upon an unopposed passage to ihe frontiers (if Turkey, or upon the security of their communications if a passage were loreed There ha'.e Peen indicalions of late that Russia would loon very much askance at a German smith cast ward drive. Additional reasons thus appear for believing tlml the Nazi dictatorship may stake its remaining hopes upon a desperate effort to invade and overcome Britain. Il cannot he doubted that ihe atlaep. if it is made, will he formidable Um it stands out as clearly that if >i r> launched m the near tnture, the attack will have poorer prospects of success than at an earlier period f<<r example m the days immedmi'd;. following the rvacuatioi) of tin- British Expeditimmn l , 'm(e from Ihinkirk when the Nazis either feared Io .(Hemp! if or were prevented from doing so. With tlie balance of deVe|i.p.-d military power much more ui their fiivimr Hum it is now or is ever Lkcly i<> be aiMUi. ihev were beaten <lei*isielv in the great air battles of IP ID i.itiles in which they lost 3..Dm planes over and arwii. iB: .w:i orainst a British ]..ss <d 1 tf.'m planes, u ,th t mr i. i ulo's saved and their preparations !><>- jmasimi v ■ r>- wrN rd »y the Royal Air Eorcc Brohabli any attempt llmi ma\ malic n the m-,.;- Vd! he Hl.or 1 '• ?r •fe m e m!..': Sp.■ ■■ - .'.I r i’h a ‘-ai.ige disregard of the , osi ,n iimw ej|-, !: 'cp 1,, approm 1 - | r. m ■ r< vmsc. • • . ■ ■an. :i:e air and other rh-tcam w;‘le;ej p,. n -p,. ~.a', ;.. Jd . were mm-h :!. :<• .n :'.r, than