NEED FOR WEAPONS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21210, 5 September 1940, Page 7

NEED FOR WEAPONS

MR ANTHONY EDEN’S VIEWS MESSAGE TO ARMY LOOK FORWARD TO OFFENSIVE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 4 Mr Anthony Eden, in a speech, said the nations overrun by Hitler were unwilling captives and there were in Britain growing contingents from the armies of these peoples. Members of these contingents were comrades and were greeted as such by the armies of the British Commonwealth. Events in France had necessitated a greatly accelerated call-up, and, in spite of the fact that the Army had to be reorganised and re-equipped, nearly 500,000 men had joined up in a few weeks.

Mr Eden said he believed the general position was improving, but there was no weapon of which the Army did not require still more. Until these weapons were available in sufficient quantities, the war could not be won, for, great and powerful as the Navy was—by keeping the freedom of the seas it created conditions in which alone victory was possible—and while the gallantry of the Royal Air Force struck a prelude to victory, it was the Army which must deal the final blow. The Army must have its weapons and training and, above all, mechanised weapons and close tactical support from the air, which were indispensable to success in modem war. In a message to the Army on the anniversary of the outbreak of hostilties, Mr Eden said: “We look forward to the day, which we are convinced is not far distant, when the Army, brought to full strength both in manpoyer and equipment, will combine with the sea and air forces in an offensive which will set our country and our cause on the final road to victory.”