YEAR DAWNS RED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1943, Page 3

YEAR DAWNS RED

PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE NAZIS AND JAPAN DOOMED BUT GRIM CONFLICT ABOUT TO OPEN. EVE OF TREMENDOUS ALLIED ONSLAUGHT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A warning thdt the campaign in Western Europe would be arduous and grim for the invading forces of the United Nations is given by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, in his New Year message to the people of New Zealand. The Nazi armies, he said, would fight hard but they were doomed. The Prime Minister .added that in the Pacific the Americans, Australians and New., Zealanders were steadily pushing the Japanese from island to island preparatory to striking at key positions. The scope and drive of the United Nations’ attack on the Japanese was not going to diminish while the German armies were being driven, but on the contrary, it would be pressed with ever-increasing numbers and vigour. “The New Year dawns red. and angry red, the red of total war, said the Prime'Minister. "All around die world horizon the war clouds' are low and heavy and threatening threatening to our enemies, the enemies of mankino. In Italy, in Russia, in China, in India, in the Picific, in the air, and on sea, and in the United Kingdom preparing for the invasion of Western Europe, the forces oi Liberation are attacking, moving to the attack, or preparing for early attack. An onslaught such as mankind has hitherto never seen, heard of or imagined, terrible in its intensity, devastating in its destructive power, and inevitable in its crushing outcome, will be directed against the embattled hosts of Nazism, and they will be defeated and their citadels overthrown.

“The Nazi armies have strong posL tions, able generals, courageous, even fanatical soldiers. They will fight, and fight hard—but they are doomed. The campaign in Western Europe will be difficult' and deadly and arduous and grim for the invading forces of the United Nations—but they will win. In addition to their courage, daring and determination, our men are inspired with the knowledge that victory is assured against those who trampled freedom underfoot throughout a whole continent, and conspired to enslave the world. NO RESPITE FOR JAPAN. “And after, soon after the Nazis—the Japs, and soon after the Atlantic, North Sea and Mediterranean—the Pacific; and soon after Europe Asia and the island approaches to Japan; and that, with the full weight of the resources cjf the United Nations in men and equipment on land, on sea, and in the air. “But the scope and drive of the United Nations’ attack on the Japanese in the Pacific is not going to diminish while the German armies are being driven back from the east, west and south. On the contrary, up to the limit of available resources, the war against Japan will be pressed continuously and undeviatingly with ever-increas-ing numbers and vigour. “The forces of freedom are marching to victory,” Mr Fraser continued. “There is no doubt about that. In Russia, the Germans are again in retreat. In Italy, they are retreating slowly and stubbornly, but surely. On sea they have -sustained heavy losses in the Scharnhorst and their destroyers and their, submarines. From the air many of their important cities and arma-ment-making centres have been attacked, partially destroyed, and some areas' have been wholly obliterated. In the Pacific, the Americans, Australians and New Zealanders are steadily pushing the Japanese from island after island, prepatory to striking at key positions.

“The United Nations are most certainly marching to victory, but the march will still be a long, difficult and perilous one. It will still be ‘uphill all the way. Yes! To the very end.’ But its end will be a great and glorious triumph’for all that is decent and valuable and sacred in life.

PEACE THROUGH WORLD WAR. . “It is a bitter irony that world peace can only be obtained through world war, but so the Nazi and Fascist leaders decreed, totally disregarding the human suffering and the loss of life involved, and they' were faithfully and minutely copied in all their foul, despicable, treacherous tactics by the Japanese. For such tyranny and treachery there can only be total defeat and terms of unconditional surrender. The cruel and unscrupulous tyrants who decreed world-wide -bloodshed and destruction must and will be completely and finally overthrown. The armies, navies and air forces of the United Nations are mustering and marshalling for this end. “What can we do in New Zealand to assist them to the limits of our capacity? What can we do to support the unsurpassed achievements of our Expenditionary Force, of our airmen and of our men of the Navy? The people in New Zealand can and will do in 1944 as much as or more than they have done right up to now in a magnificent war effort which has not been excelled anywhere. We can continue to support the brave men who are fighting for us as Aaron and Hur held up the bands of Moses at Rephidin. On farms, in factories, workshops, mines, offices and shops, on wharves, ships, railways and in the transport of all kinds, in all professions and businesses, in State Departments, in administration and in Government, our watchword must and will be in 1944 ‘Forward to Victory.’ A great war job has been done by workers' in all industries, trades and professions in country and in town during the last four years; 1944 will see as great results, perhaps even greater where it is possible.

GREATER SACRIFICES. “We will be asked to make greater sacrifices. Let us make them gladly. In confidence, in humility, and in strength with deep conviction of the righteousness of our cause, we can rise to even greater heights of material, moral and spiritual achievement, and thus we will contribute to the success of our cause to the utmost of our ability. In the dark hour of defeat we did not falter. In the brighter hour of approaching victory we will not fail. After the war for world freedom is won,then New Zealand will take her part in securing that freedom and all it means for the world. New Zealand will continue to be in the vanguard of progress. After helping earnestly and

effectively to win the war, it will help, as earnestly and effectively, to win .the peace. “My dearest and most devout wish.” concluded the Prime Minister, “is that God will bless our efforts now and in the years to come, and that the New Year, in spite of continuing war conditions, will be a good one for all our people, our country, and our cause.”