DEMAND FOR ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1942, Page 4

DEMAND FOR ACTION

MADE BY BRITISH WORKERS SECOND FRONT IN EUROPE. CRUCIAL YEAR ALREADY WANING. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 25. Delegates representing 4500 London munition workers today visited No. 10 Downing Street and presented to Mr Churchill a petition urging the Government immediately to open a second front. Mr A. W. Newman, a member of the delegation, later issued a statement saying: “The petition was presented because the workers have a feeling of frustration. The petition stated: — “We believe that unless a second front is opened immediately there will be increased danger and British lives will be lost because Britain will have to face the Germans under more difficult conditions, and the war will last for many years. Delay in opening up a second front might mean defeat, but Hitler can be beaten if the second front is opened in 1942.” Mr Jack Tanner, president of the Amalgamated Engineering Union, presiding at a conference of the International Metal Workers’ Federation, said: “It is difficult to be patient. It is difficult to read the news and see the crucial year 1942 already waning and know we are still largely playing the part of a spectator. All our future hangs on the outcome of this year’s action or inaction in the East. No other issue has the same importance. All other issues pale beside the single question when will the second front be opened? The longer that question is unanswered the longer will the spirit and morale of our people lack the burning flame which has fired our Soviet comrades to heroic deeds.”