MEMORABLE AGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1943, Page 4

MEMORABLE AGE

IN HISTORY OF MANKIND MR CHURCHILL ON VISIT TO WASHINGTON. UNITY OF ALLIED NATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY. June 8. Mr Churchill made Parliamentary history when he concluded his war review in the House of Commons by explaining that the reason he had not to make a longer speech was that he already had given a joint session of the Congress of the United States a statement which he should have made to the House of Commons, on the Tunisian victories, had he been in England. “When I’found myself talking to that august assembly, the free Congress of the most powerful community in the world, and when I gave them, exactly as I would do in this House, a businesslike, stocktaking survey of the war and our joint interests —even touching on matters of domestic controversy over there' —and when I thought of our common history and the hopes that lie before us, I thought this was an age of memorable importance to mankind.” Mr Churchill said complete agreement about future steps had been reached in Washington. Since the Casablanca conference, the Allied armies had marched faster than had been foreseen and large-scale, amphibious operations were approaching. These were of a peculiarly complex and hazardous nature and might prove expensive. The actions planned had been fitted into their place in general strategy. FUTILE AXIS OUTCRY. Nothing, Mr Churchill declared, would turn the Allies from intensifying bombing from the air. “The enemy, who thought the air would be their weapon of victory, are now finding in it the first cause of their ruin,” he observed. “It is necessary to make it plain that so far as Britain, the Dominions, America and Russia are concerned, nothing can turn us from our endeavour and intention to accomplish the complete destruction of our foes by bombing from the air, in addition to all other methods. Loud lamentations and outcries are being made by the enemy now that this form of warfare, by which they sought to obtain mastery of the world, has turned so markedly to their disadvantage. These outcries will only be regarded by us as very satisfactory proof of the growing efficiency of our attack.” Speaking of the campaign against the U-boats, Mr Churchill said May had been our best month yet and joint Allied shipbuilding had exceeded losses by more than three to one. Also, the U-boats destroyed in May outnumbered those produced. He added that the first week in June had been ever better. REBIRTH OF FRANCE. The Allied governments, Mr Churchill stated, had not intervened in the discussions between General de Gaulle and General Giraud and their future dealings would be with the French Committee of National Liberation, upon the members of which lay the greatest responsibility. They had only to sink their differences to ensure the rebirth of France. “We rejoice in the new French agreement,” he added. In intimating that large-scale Allied operations against the enemy were approaching, Mr Churchill said he could make no predictions as to what would happen in future, still less in the near future. He said the dominating features of his visits to Washington and North Africa had been the complete British and American unity and the spirit, quality and organisation of the Allied armies. General war policy included the taking of pressure off Russia, helping China and the protection of Australia and New Zealand.

AUDIENCE WITH KING. Mr Churchill had his first audience with the King, at Buckingham Palace today, since his departure for America. He gave his Majesty a full account of his visits to Washington and North Africa. Sir Dudley Pound, Mr A. V. Alexander and Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal were present. It is announced that the ship which took Mr Churchill to America carried nearly 400 German prisoners, including high officers. GREAT RECEPTION IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. HITLER’S HOPES BLASTED IN TUNISIA. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 8. The House of Commons gave Mr Churchill a wonderful welcome as he walked to the Treasury benches. In the course of his war statement, Mr Churchill said: “One cannot doubt that Stalingrad and Tunisia are the greatest military disasters that have ever befallen Germany in all the wars she has made. There is no doubt, from the statements of captured generals, that Hitler expected that his Tunisian army would hold out at least until August, and that this was the view and intention of the German High Command.”