HITLER’S HOPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1941, Page 5

HITLER’S HOPE

REVEALED BY MR CHURCHILL

THOUGHT HE COULD STARVE BRITAIN

GREAT IMPROVEMENT

IN SHIPPING AND FOOD POSITION

Prime Minister Gives Impressive Details

BUT ISSUES WARNING AGAINST COMPLACENCY

NO CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT CONTEMPLATED

LONDON, November 12. ON THE STRENGTH OF INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE DEPUTYFUEHRER, RUDOLF HESS, MR CHURCHILL TOLD THE HOUSE OF COMMONS TODAY THAT HITLER HAD RELIED ON STARVING GREAT BRITAIN RATHER THAN ON A SUCCESSFUL INVASION. The Prime Minister was addressing the House at the opening of the new session of Parliament. He went on to give the House some remarkable figures of improvement in the shipping position. IN THE FOUR MONTHS FROM MARCH TO JUNE OF THIS YEAR, MR CHURCHILL STATED, WE LOST 2,000,000 TONS OF SHIPPING—ABOUT HALF A MILLION TONS A MONTH. IN THE FOUR MONTHS FROM JULY TO OCTOBER OUR LOSSES WERE 750,000 TONS, A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF ABOUT 180,000 TONS. MR CHURCHILL FURTHER SHOWED THAT WHEN ACCOUNT WAS TAKEN OF NEW SHIPBUILDING, OUR NET LOSS IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS HAD BEEN A GREAT DEAL LESS THAN ONE-FIFTH OF THAT OF THE PREVIOUS FOUR MONTHS. ON THE OTHER HAND, SINCE THE END OF JUNE OVER A MILLION TONS OF ENEMY SHIPPING HAD BEEN SUNK. There had been a very great improvement in Britain’s production and supplies of food, the Prime Minister stated. Her own production had increased and stocks of bulky articles of imported foodstuffs had also increased. Since the war began, the area under cultivation in Britain had been increased by 45 per cent. In one of several warnings against complacency, Mr Churchill told the House that more U-boats and bombers were operating against cur shipping than ever before. We must be ready at all times for attacks on our imports and must be prepared to meet much more extensive demands to meet the needs of military operations. In case Hitler screwed up his courage to attempt an invasion, we must be prepared also to meet any scale of attack that might be launched in the spring. There was an assurance, Mr Churchill said, that we should be able to maintain our sea position until the great American shipbuilding programme of 1942 pame into operation. In 1943 the United States would have such numbers of ships that we should be able to undertake oversea operations which were out of the question at present. Of British aid to Russia, Mr Churchill said that if he were to describe it in detail he would be giving away to the enemy secrets that were Russian as well as British. If he were to give a favourable account of the campaign on the Eastern front he might be accused of complacency. If his account were grave he might be accused of creating depression and the Russians might feel that less than justice was being done to their giant strength. Declaring his dislike of prophecy, Mr Churchill observed that in view of our naval successes in the Mediterranean he would say that he thought that the hopes of Germany and Italy that they would be able to capture Suez before the end of last May were likely still to be unfulfilled at Christmas. Mr Churchill said that no change in the Government was contemplated. He maintained that the manner in which Parliamentary institutions and democratic rights had been maintained in Britain in stress of war was a triumph. Both Houses of Parliament assembled in London yesterday to hear the King’s Speech which brought the session to a close. The Speech said the British people had entered on the third year of war with undiminished resolution. Russia had been welcomed heartily as an ally, and in co-operation with the United States, Britain was giving all possible aid to Russia. The Speech paid tribute to the fighting services and to all the nations of the British Commonwealth for the part they were playing in the war.