OF BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1941, Page 5

OF BATTLE OF ATLANTIC

Given by British Prime Minister EXTENDED REVIEW OF WAR OUTLOOK NO GROUNDS FOR PREMATURE REJOICING LONDON. September 30. Heartening news about the Battle of the Atlantic was given by the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, when reviewing the war situation in the House of Commons. Our shipping losses during the past three months, he indicated, were less than half a million tons. He tempered his speech with a warning that we must expect heavier attacks at sea, while the invasion threat to Britain still existed. After giving’ news of British successes in the Battle of the Atlantic, he stressed the need of giving adequate help to Russia and gave details of the organisation of the British Army. Mr Churchill said they must expect the heaviest fighting of the war to develop in the East next spring. Referring to the Battle of the Atlantic, Mr Churchill said ever larger forces of U-boats and long-range aircraft were beingused by the enemy, but the losses of British, Allied and neutral ships in the past three months were only about one-third of the losses during the previous quarter. This statement was greeted with cheers. In the same period enemy losses were 50 per cent higher than ours and one and a half times what they were in the previous quarter. Very few important ships carrying munitions had been lost. The reserves of food in Britain were hig T her than at the outbreak of the war and far higher than they weie a year oi 18 months ago. The position was such that it was possible to increase the basic rations of the country.

FLOW OF NEW SHIPS They were now, said Mr Churchill, within measurable distance of the flow of American-built merchant ships, to which, together with Britain’s own construction, they looked to see them through to the end of the war. He deprecated premature rejoicing and warned his hearers that they must expect the enemy attack to be intensified. Britain, he said, must not relax for one moment. The U-boats would be beaten with the assistance Britain | was receiving in an increasing degree from other quarters. NO LONGER ALONE One encouraging feature, said Mr Churchill, was that Britain was no longer alone. They also felt the upsurge of all the enslaved people of Europe. The vast majority of mankind was supporting Britain. Referring to the enemy’s strength, Mr Churchill said their one shortage was in the air. In other forces. Hitler still retained the initiative because Britain had not had the forces to take it from him-. Many important supplies had already been despatched to Russia. The British representatives in Moscow and their American colleagues knew clearly what could be given to Russia month by month. Extreme sacrifices would have to be made in Britain to supply Russia and enormous new plants would be erected in the United States in order to keep Russia in the field as a first-class war-making power. ARMY & HOME GUARD Britain, said Mr Churchill, would never have an army of Continental size. The British Army was of medium size and was very good. This weapon, supported by the Home Guard of nearly 2,000,000 men, would hurl any invaders into the sea. Britain, he said, would not hesitate to bomb Rome if the course of the war would be helped by such action. Britain and Russia were negotiating a new alliance with Persia. He could not give any promise of a bright and easy future. In the spring they must expect very much heavier fighting to take place in the East than any experienced in the war so far, while the threat of invasion would be still very grave- and sharp.