FALSE STRATEGY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 October 1941, Page 5

FALSE STRATEGY

ALLEGED BY BRITISH LABOUR M.P. NEED OF IMMEDIATE ACTION. LONDON PRESS COMMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 11. “The nation is uneasy and. even the eloquence of Mr Churchill does not remove its fears,” said Mr E. Shinwell, M.P., in a speech. “I have no doubt that Mr Churchill desires to render full aid to Russia, but it seems to me that the Government’s policy is based on false strategy. If the General Staff said it is wiser to conserve resources for the defence of Britain it is making a grave mistake. “It is fatal to imagine that if Germany disposes of Russia we can face the enemy’s tremendous onslaughts without the , gravest difficulties. It is easy to say we would be no worse off than before Russia was invaded, but we are now fully aware of Germany’s military strength and we are far from reaching parity, in spite of the Government’s declarations.” The “Daily Mail” stated: “Obviously the War Cabinet has examined all the possibilities of landing on the Continent, and considers the time not yet ripe. Winter is approaching, which is the 'worst time of the year to embark on a continental offensive. “Britain can best help the Eastern Front by continuing to send as much material to Russia as possible. Should Moscow fall, the Russians could retreat to the Volga and hold that line throughout the winter. Russia has the man-power, and Britain and America have the machine-power. If between us we can equip the Russians, then next summer we should still have a great Allied army capable of a further prolonged effort.” NO WEAKENING IN RUSSIAN RESOLUTION. SPOKESMAN’S DECLARATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MOSCOW, October 11. The Soviet spokesman, M. Lozovsky, denied that the Government was evacuating Moscow and denied also that Russia would entertain peace moves. “The Germans may advance some tens of miles on the central front, but they will not achieve their aim. We will fight on till we destroy all the Hitler-! ian bandits in Soviet territory,” he 'said. MILITARY DIVERSION ON THE WESTERN FRONT. SAID TO HAVE BEEN REQUESTED ■ BY STALIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 10. Diplomatic circles in Washington intimated that they had information that M. Stalin had asked Britain for an immediate military diversion on the Western Front to relieve some of the German pressure on Russia, and that Britain had replied indicating her inability to provide a sufficiently large and equipped expeditionary force to achieve such a purpose. AIR VICTORIES GAINED BY RUSSIANS & R.A.F. FIGHTING IN MURMANSK ZONE. i (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 11. The Moscow “Pravda” says that the latest attempt by the Luftwaffe to raid Murmansk was repulsed by the Red Air Force and the Royal Air Force, with the enemy losing five planes, .three of which were shot down by Hurricanes. Neither the Russian nor British force suffered a single loss.