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Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1941. CONFIDENCE AND CAUTION.

A DETERMINATION on Mr Churchill’s part to say nothing that miMit appear to justify any limitation whatever of the war effort of the United States may account for the tenor of the British Prime Minister’s replies to the questions of American pressmen whom he met in company with President Roosevelt. While declaring that he had absolutely no doubts as to the outcome of the war, Mr Churchill, as he was reported yesterday, declined to commit himself- to any optimistic estimate of the extent to which Germany’s military resources have been cut down. He said, indeed, that the losses Germany had suffered in Russia were not considered to have been enough to affect her striking power at the moment and added a warning that there was no reason to think that Germany would run short of materials.'

The statement last quoted may appear to run counter in some degree to recent observations made by some of i Churchill’s own colleagues regarding the effects, of the Bntisi blockade and the extent to which Germany’s oil supplies, for example, have been trenched upon. The essential fact no doubt is, however, that in. spite of the losses she undoubtedly has suffered, Germany is still possessed of large and formidable forces and must be expected to strike again, and to strike hard, before she can be brought to final and decisive defeat. On this, it may be supposed, there is complete agreement in and between the Allied nations. Prudence and common sense certainly demand that they should base their joint plans on the assumption that the common enemy will yet make maximum efforts to avert disaster.

There is no doubt about the magnitude and damaging effect of the defeat suffered by the Germans on the Eastern front. It might be fatally foolish, however, to assume that on account of the enormous losses of men and material she has suffered and is suffering in Russia, Germany is likely tQ,-be reduced to helplessness, or even to be restricted at all severely in her military efforts in the immediate future. Not long ago, Germany was credited, by the United States Assistant Secretary for War (Mr J. J. McCloy) with having mobilised a total of 300 divisions, totalling 9,000,000 to 10,000,000 men. Accepting this estimate as approximately correct, it would appear that even her losses in Russia and in the Libyan campaign leave Germany with immense military resources yet to be drawn upon.

The Russians, now acquitting themselves so splendidly in their grbat counter-offensive, have shotvn no disposition to take quick and easy success unwisely for granted. It is true that M. Stalin said last month that Germany cannot sustain for any long time such a strain as she is now enduring and that: —

Another few months, another half-year, one year maybe and Hitlerite Germany must burst' under the weight of her own crimes.

Almost simultaneously with that declaration, however, the Soviet High Command proclaimed its belief that a maximum effort by Germany to recover ivhat had been lost in South Russia must be expected. Only yesterday, too, it was reported that the Russians are building powerful defence lines in the territories they have recaptured, particularly round Rostov, the northern gateway to the Caucasus.

■ Germany’s possession of unexhausted reserves of striking power has its manifest bearing on events in war theatres peyond Europe. Even in Libya, where British and Imperial' forces have made rapid and victorious progress to the confines of Cyrenaica, the position is liable to be altered so long as the possibility remains open that Germany may be able to introduce additional forces by way ot French North Africa. The demands still being made on the Allies in Europe have their plain bearing, too, on the grave situation that exists meantime in the Pacific and on the unsparing effort that must be made in order that the heroic defenders of Hong Kong, Wake Island and other lost strongholds may be avenged and an end made of Japanese evil and barbarism. The facts, incidentally, give all possible point to President Roosevelt’s reported remark that Australia and New Zealand are definitely in the danger zone. As part of our contribution to the Allied effort we are called upon quite obviously to make, as individual countries, the last ounce of defence preparation in our power.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19411227.2.4

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1941, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
724

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1941. CONFIDENCE AND CAUTION. Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1941, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1941. CONFIDENCE AND CAUTION. Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1941, Page 2

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