GRIM STRUGGLE YET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1941, Page 5

GRIM STRUGGLE YET

BUT DAWN OF VICTORY ON FAR HORIZON BRITISH MINISTER’S DECLARATION. TRIBUTE PAID TO RUSSIA. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 29. , “Grim though the struggle may yet be, we can notv look to the far horizon where the dawn starts to break,” said the Under-Secretary for Air, Captain Balfour, speaking in his constituency. “With Russia in the east, with the Empire rallied as one with America, we can make sure that Germany is brought to her knees.

“Though we are a tough people, we shall be called upon to show that we are far tougher still before we are through with Hitler. In the dark days of 1940, when the Battle of Britain was fought and won above our heads, we had great trials, but the trials we may yet face may be far more severe.

“I believe that, standing alone, our island fortress, supported by the British Commonwealth of Nations, could avoid defeat for ever, but to avoid defeat is not enough. We must have total victory for the security of the world. I do not believe that without American help-given and promised—we could achieve that total victory, even though we could avoid defeat.” Captain Balfour, who has just returned from visits to Russia and America,, said his chief impression of the Russian Government and people was a fixed certainty that they would fight on bravely till victory, whether or not Moscow was captured and whether things went well or badly. The courage of the Soviet airmen and the tenacity of the ground troops would never be daunted. The Russian air equipment was formidable. The engineers knew their jobs and the Russians were splendid technicians. They erected our modern fighters in a, few hours, working in exposed conditions without thought of rest or food. The pilots flew these aircraft without difficulty and off an aerodrome built in 30 days, though the conventional outlook is that an aerodrome must take months to build. Russia had the disadvantage of thin communications of telegraph, road, rail and telephone, but both sides faced the same conditions. If both sides were using modern air equipment, was it not likely that those born there, who lived always contesting the difficulties and limitations imposed by nature, would get the better, use out of their equipment?