DURATION OF THE WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20907, 12 September 1939, Page 6

DURATION OF THE WAR

Britain is developing its plans on the assumption that the war will last three years or more. That is not to say that it is placing a definite period to the conflict. It is manifestly impossible even to hazard a guess regarding the duration of the war, because there are so many contingencies to consider, such as possible action by powerful nations which are at present neutral. It is not even possible or wise to base calculations on experience of the last war, because there are so many new factors. Britain is merely taking the reasonable precaution of preparing for the worst and to see the war through to the end, however long that end might be delayed. The first week-end of the war has brought little light on the situation because of the effectiveness of the censorship. Germany is obviously making considerable inroads into Polish territory, and very heavy losses have been inflicted on both sides, but it is declared that the main Polish forces remain intact and that their morale remains good. The greatest uncertainty exists on the Western Front, where the Germans are facing the tremendously strong forces of France and Britain. Germany’s carefully prepared defences have made spectacular advances extremely difficult, but there is cause for satisfaction that operations so far have been on German soil, contrary to the experience of the Great War, when great havoc was wrought on the territories of Belgium and France. Little has been heard from Herr Hitler, who is alleged to be in the forefront of the German attack on Poland, and the most important statement was left to Field-Marshall Goering, who said largely what he was expected to say in the circumstances with the object of spurring on the Ger: :...i legions and building up their courage. J£ Herr Hitler is in the front line, that is an extraordinary position, for it is obviously the place of the supreme leader of the nation to remain at the heart of affairs to direct the wider policy of Germany. If the person of Herr Hitler is so valuable for the guidance of Germany, why does he risk his life in the front line, especially in view of the fact that his lack of experience and training has left him unfit to lead and direct huge armies in the field 1