A LONG WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20912, 18 September 1939, Page 7

A LONG WAR

BRITISH PREPARATIONS THREE YEARS OR MORE EFFECT OF THE BLOCKADE (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 18, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 17 Preparations for a long war are being made methodically by Britain and all departments of State are organising their efforts on the basis of the conflict lasting three years or more. Particular attention is given in the press lo the part that will he played by the invisible pressure of the British blockade. It is recognised in ail informed quarters that the 1014-18 war would have ended much sooner if the interception of goods destined for Germany had been made effective at au earlier date. This time, says the Sunday Times, “Britain is starting where in the last war she left off. The new Ministry of Economic Warfare has all the former experience lo work upon. It is helped by the fact that America shared in that experience and cannot hut acquiesce in our doing now what she herself did then. “Germany likewise is starting the naval war where she left off last time. Her sinking of the Athenia was an act identical with those by which she outlawed herself in ID 17 and made America a belligerent. Once more she has adopted ruthless submarine warfare. Success of Convoy System “In the opening days, before the convoy system could be adopted, our shipping suffered inevitable losses, but from now onwards that system is working. More than anything else it baffled the submarines In 1918 and it may be expected to batfle them again. “On the other side our Navy’s resources for discovering and destroying an underwater enemy have been much increased by the progress of invention in the interval. The longer the war lasts the more important on b£th sides will Liic problem of supplies become.” More Planes Needed ■Referring to the war in the air, the paiper says: “The reply to that menace is air-power and more alrs>ower. “We have plans already working to expand still further both our production of aeroplanes and our training of pilots. This scale is truly gigantic. But we cannot rest content while it is possible for us to do more.” Regarding war on land, the paper says: “Britain is committed now, as" in 1914-18, to military effort in France. Now, as then, it is bound to grow larger from its small begin- “ The careful organisation of manpower,” it adds, “is essential to withstand the fourfold strain —navy, air force, army and munitions—besides civil defence, and for this requisite acts of Parliament based on past experience have already been passed. The British public has accepted philosophically the prospect of a long war, and already has adapted itself to wartime conditions, which have profoundly altered its social life. Rigidity of Restrictions “The inconveniences of the first week of war already have become commonplace and less hardship is now felt at the rigidity of the restrictions, which, in some respects, are in process of cautious relaxation and in others are progressively increasing. The example of the latter will be experienced when next week the petrol rationing scheme becomes effective. “It is offset to a lauge extent by the restoration to the railways of many trains which were withdrawn during the days of strain, while the four main railway companies tackled the heavy tasks of the evacuation period, the transport of food and the movement of men and material, on behalf of the military authorities. One of the principal railways is able to announce the restoration, with a few exceptions, of the normal services and corresponding developments are occurring on other lines. “in the reception areas social workers are busily at work on new tasks, iooking after the interests af the evacuated people, and in several parts of the country schools in such areas are being reopened for children on a two-shift basis.