PRELUDE TO VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 January 1943, Page 4

PRELUDE TO VICTORY

MAY BE SEEN THIS YEAR IF SEA LANES ARE KEPT OPEN AND WAR PRODUCTION MAINTAINED. OPINION OF LORD HALIFAX. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, January 18. “If the sea lanes are kept open and war production maintained, 1943 may well see the prelude to victory,” said Lord Halifax (British Ambasasdor), in a speech. “Two facts stand out from 1942,” he added. “First, Hitler’s strategic plan was smashed. Hitler was in a dilemma at the beginning of 1942. His military advisers demanded that the line be shortened to save men. His economic advisers insisted that the line be lengthened to get oil. Hitler gambled on oil and lost. The second fact is that the Allies’ design to throw a ring round Europe has now taken firm shape. “The next hard task is to expel the Germans and Italians from North Africa.” Lord Halifax said that large parts of the world, after the war, would be m want, and some would be near starvation. Relief would demand sacrifices from all. The future international structure opened up large questions. Whatever form it took it was bound to rest upon the capacity and willingness of the United States, Russia, China and the British Commonwealth of Nations to guarantee peace and order. The disarmament of the aggressor nations would not be enough. Economic security, as well as military security, must be assured.