SECOND FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1943, Page 3

SECOND FRONT

URGENCY STRESSED APPEAL BY LORD BEAVERBROOK. THE TIME FACTOR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, February 23. The need for a second front in Europe was today urged by Lord Beaverbrook, speaking in the House of Lords. “Public opinion here,” he said, “thinks that the war has been won though the fighting is not finished. That optimism springs from the success of the second Russian offensive to defeat the German Army in winter operations, which has exceeded all our expectations. But we have no right to count on these advantages too much, because there are serious dangers in the way, of which we must beware.” Alluding to Communism, Lord Beaverbrook said: “I am not a Communist. I am a Capitalist. I don’t favour sharing my wealth; I only want to share my opportunities, but none the less it must be admitted that Russian Communism has directed two successful winter offensives unparalleled in history. How did Stalin rally his armies? By persuading his tired people that a second front was in prospect and that victory was not far off. “What is to be the answer to Stalin’s two messages, the last of which we have received this morning? Whatever will be the plans of the Germans, we should strike, and strike now before the Germans regroup their divisions. If another attack is made against Russia, June may be the date, so we must strike quickly if we are to be ready.” Another great reason for speed, said Lord Beaverbrook, was the Japanese. “Japan’s inactivity has contrasted strangely with the wild, triumphant outbursts of energy that we saw during the first months they were in the war. They had only 80 divisions, but they could easily have 300. Obviously the Japanese are busily engaged on big-scale industrial production. We must strike the Germans first, and then turn to the Japanese with speed and energy. “Time is the first consideration. It seems to me that we must now invade north-western Europe. We must invade in the Mediterranean, too, but certainly from the British base as well as from the African base. It is true that Africa has many attractions as a base for attack , against Europe, but Britain has far more advantages. Time should not be wasted. We cannot afford a year, oi' even months —at the most, a few months. These are precious weeks. “The war will not be won by a turning tide of fortune or by an inexorable massing of superior machines. We should not comfort ourselves, like the fool in the parable, by the knowledge that we have goods laid up, that we are accumulating immense treasures in weapons. It is a choice of the hour for staking all that decides the nation’s fate. That hour of decision presses on us, and if we loiter and delay it may never come again. It may. have gone for ever.”