Page
THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 10, 1941,
ENEMY MAY CHANGE TACTICS
Mr. Churchill On Battle Of The Atlantic
Comprehensive Review Of War
DURING REFERENCES TO THE SHIPPING SITUATION IN THE COURSE OF HIS STATEMENT ON THE WAR IN THE HOUSE OF MR. WINSTON COMMONS YESTERDAY, THE PRIME MINISTER, CHURCHILL SAID THE ENEMY HAD BEEN EMPLOYING® A GREAT- ER NUMBER OF U-BOATS AND A LARGER NUMBER OF LONG- RANGE AIRCRAFT THAN EVER BEFORE “AND WE MUST EXPECT FURTHER INCREASES."
Mr. Churchill added: "We have made | prodigious exertions and our resources are continually growing but the Admiralty staff, who have been working in perfect harmony with the R.A.F., would be the last to guar antee their continuance as a matter of course, and the slightest relaxation of vigilance, of exertions and contrivance would be followed swiftly by very serious relapses.
"The Germans are very much hampered on the American parts of the Atlantic by fear of trouble with the powerful American naval| forces which ceaselessly control the ap- proaches to the western hemisphere.
"This has been a help to us. } could wish it might be a greater help but here again the enemy's tactics may change.
in
tended to welcome the arrival
of our troops."
Mr. Churchill traced the gress of the operations in
Crete Explains
pro- Iraq
"There was an explanation of this German failure. The Ger- man parachute air-borne corps which was doubtless to have oper-
and control of the pipeline and other resources.
AMBITIONS "WE HAVE NO
WE DO NOT SEEK
IN SYRIA. TO REPLACE OR SUPPLANT FRANCE OR SUBSTITUTE BRI- IN ANY PART OF SYRIA. WE ARE ONLY IN SYRIA TO WIN. *"However, I must make it clear that our policy, to which scribed, is that Syria shall be
TISH FOR FRENCH INTERESTS.
our Free French allies have sub-
handed back to the Syrians who will assume at the carllest pos-
their independent" sovereign rights.
sible moment
Syrian Autonomy
"Do do not propose that the
process of creating an indepen-
dent Syrian government or gov- ernments shall wait until the end of the war. We contemplate con- stantly increasing the Syrians' share in the administration.
"There is no question of France maintaining the
ent.
same
METRO-VICKERS TRIAL MEMORIES
It has now been de- finitely established that Colonel Alan Monkhouse, one of the officials in Mos- COW of the Metro- politan Vickers Elec- trical Co., who was charged in 1933 by the Russians with later sabotage and expelled, will be inter- prèter to Lord Beaver brook in the forth- coming three-power conference in Moscow.
The Soviet Govern- ment has intimated its willing assent. Reu-
ter.
"Now a turn floid:
the skilful
to a far wider
war
months he
on the
Lord Beaverbrook takes with him will therefore - 'supplement those who are" "already there. The names are already selected and will be published in due course.
...“It is obviously undesirable to announce the date. the mission will start for the conference but, no time will be lost.
"Meanwhile many very im- portant emergency decisions are being taken and large supplies are on the way. We must be prepared for serious sacrifices in the munitions field to meet Russia's needs (choera). "The utmost exertion will be required from all concerned production not only to help Rus sia but to All the gaps which must now be opened in our long- sought and at last arriving sup- ply.
Subtraction
בנ1
"Everything given to Russia is subtracted from what we are making ourselves or in part at least from what would have been sent us by the U.S.
"The flow of our own produc- tion in Britain and the Empire is still rising. It will reach tusl flood during the third year of wartimie munitions production. -
"If the US, are to fulfil the task they have set thomsalves very large installations will have to be established or con- verted and there will have to be a further curtallment of civilian consumption over there, as they fully recognise. "We may ourselves expect a definite reduction in military sup- plfes from America on which we counted but within certain limits we are prepared to accept
had
are limitations
The magnificent resis tance of the Russian armies and manner in which thair vast front is being with drawn in the teeth of the Nazi those facts. "No doubt Hitler would rather and said Raschid A¦ appealed
position which she exercised in
Invasion, makes it cortain that finish off Russia, then Britain, be- constantly to the Germans to ful- Syria before the war and which
Hitler's happe of a short
Shipping Limitations fore coming to close quarters with fil their promises but only 30 to the French Government had real-
with Rusela will be dispelled.
"Other limiting factors, likt the United States. That would be 40 German 'plantes arrived fromised must come to
an end.
time, distance and geography, accordance with his
Hitler's Black Outlook impose themselves upon us. There usual Syria and endeavoured tentatively "On the other hand, we recog- technique of one by one.
to instal themselves at Baghdad'
nise that among all European na- "Hitler has,
of transport and", however,
"Already in three also and in the north at Mosul.
tions the position of France the greatest possible need to
Syria is one of special privilege was shed in any
inhas lost more German blood that harbour facilities. Above all there prevent munitions supplies now
and, so far as any European coun- the last war,
single year of is the limitation of shipping.
"There are only three routes streaming across the Atlantic In
tries will have influence in Syria, the certainty of having to main-open
Already he faces
the Arctic, by Ar- pursuance of the policy of the
that of France will be pre-emin-tain his armles
ham- United States Government, from
may be whole changel, which reaching our shores. Should he
front, from the Arctic to the pered by winter ice, the Far East- "We did not go to Syria to de- Black Sea, at the do so the area of danger zonas
ern route, via Vladivostok, which end of long, will again become ootanwide,
prive France of her long historic inadequate, assailed and precariis scowled upon by the Japanese position there except insofar as is ous line's of communication and operates over 7,000 miles of necessary to fulfil our obligations through all the severity of the railway lines, and the route across to the Syrian population.
Russian winter, with vigorous Persia, which leads over a 500- "There must be no question, counter-strokes
which may
Persian from the even in wartime, of a mere sub-expected from the Russian army. Gulf into the great inland sea, the Over 4,000 of these specialist | stitution of Free French interests
Caspian, whereupon the Russians troops had been killed and very for Vichy French interests.
"Fram the moment when maintain a strong naval force and large numbers of aircraft-car. "I was asked a question about Russia was attacked we have which gives access to the rlera destroyed. This specialist our relations with Iraq. They are cast about for avery means of heart of Russia, namely the Volga corps was so mauled in the special, and our relations with giving the most speedy and ef- Basin, feroclaus fighting that al-Egypt are special in the same way.
fective halp to our new ally. though they forced ฟล to "I conceive France will have, evacuate Crete they were in no special arrangements with Syria condition for further opera-The independence of Syria is a
prime feature of our policy. With the new Iraq Government we had been able to return to a
No Vain Talk "In the meanwhile let us hear no vain talk about the Battle of the Atlantic being won.
We may be
content with the successes which have rewarded patience and exertion but war is in- exhaustible in its surprises.
ated in Iraq and would have been assisted on their journey across Syria by the Vichy French, had been largely exterminated in the Battle of Crete.
tions.
"With great pleasure on my homeward voyage I visited Ice- land where we were received with. the utmost cordiality by the Gov- ernment and people and where I had the honour of reviewing large numbers of strong British basis. of friendly cooperation and United States forces which, which we proposed to follow. no doubt for entirely different The treaty is now being reasons and in pursuance of loyally observed
on both sides. separate duties, happened to be There are still dangers in Iraq engaged jointly in defending this which require attention but cause all-important island and stepping no major anxiety.
⚫ stone across the Atlantic from
Nazi intrusion and attack.
"Very considerable British and
U.S. air and naval forces are also
assembled in Iceland.
Dentz Treachery
L
be
miles stretch
"Discussion of the military projects which have been exam- ined would be harmful. Nor will it be possible to enter upon argu- Cyrenaica Blows
ments on such questions.
"In the field of supply more "Meanwhile on the eastern can be said. I agreed with Pre- flank of the Army of the Nile sident Roosevelt upon the mes- army struck two heavy sage which was sent to Stalin. blows at the German and Ita-The need is urgent and the scale Ilan forces which have recaptur.is heavy, ed Cyrenaica.
the
Soviet's Need
Demands On Iran
very
"The Germans were, of course, busy betimes in Persia with their usual tricks. German tourists, missions and diplomatists were suborning the people and Govern- ment with the object of creating a Fifth Column which would domin- ate the Government
of Teheran and not only seize or destroy the oilfields, which are of the high- est consequence, but — a fact to which I attach extreme. import- ance close the surest route by which we could reach Rusala,
"We thought it necessary there- ations did not succeed. Accord- ingly we demanded from the Per sian Government the immediate
"The spacious airfields which the Vichy French in Syria had which was firmly held by AustraRussia has fallen into the enemy's fore to ensure that these machin-
and in the continual flow of a -broadening stream of heavy bombers now acting against Ger- many night after night which will play a decisive part, or one of the decisive parts, in the final vic- tory.
to further German 'interests.
tors,
"We must have the surrender “To aid in the supply of into our hands of all Germans these masses, to enable them and Italians who are on the pre- to realise their long continuing mises (cheers), We must have force and to organise the opera the expulsion of the German and tion of their supplies, will be Italian Legations, whose diploma- the task of the Anglo-Amer.tic status we of course respect. Ican-Russian, conference.
"These forces found themselves Į unable to advance upon Egypt, as had been foreseen, without des-
"A considerable part of the 7 "The Germans intrigue with troying the stronghold of Tobruk, munitions and steel production of hands. On the other hand the we constructed and are expand- and the Vichy French Governor,
meanwhile been in full swing, lian and British troops.
Soviet disposes of from 10 to 15 ing there and in Newfoundland, Dentz, in a base and treacherous
"HEAVY ATTACKS BY OUR million soldiers for nearly all of will play an ever-increasing part in the control of the brodd waters manner was striving his utmost/ FORCES IN THE WESTERN DE whom they have equipment and expulsion of their Teutonic visi
SERT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY RIMS. "Our armies In Greece had AND JUNE, WHILE THEY DID been evacuated, having lost NOT SUCCEED, AS WE HAD much equipment. Our western HOPED, IN FORCING THE front in Cyrenaica had been ENEMY TO RETREAT PLAYED beaten in by the incursion of A GREAT PART IN BRINGING General von Rommel's Ger- HIM TO A STANDSTILLEU man African Corps and we had "All widely circulated German Iraq Operations the revolt in Iraq to suppress. boasts that they would be in Suez
Nevertheless we found it pos- by the end of May have thus prov AV "Our affairs have also prosper- sible, in conjunction with the Free ed to be in vain. ed in the eastern theatre of war, French; to invade Syria. Free "Powerful reinforcements have Our relations with Iraq are gov French battalion fought gallant-reached the Army of the Nile in erned by a treaty of alliance ly in cooperation with our forces the interval and I feel consider which in time of war or other which ultimately reached the able confidence that we shall be emergency accords us wide powers equivalent of about four divisions, able to defend Egypt successfully for purposes of defence to Ira- "Australlan and Indian from a German invasion across qian and British interests."
troopa distinguished themselves the Western Desert. After a reference to German-in- repeatedly In action, filtration and intrigue and the flight of the pro-German Raschid All, Mr. Churchill said:
Safety At Cyprus
Marked Recovery
Unquestioned Control
There has been no unavoid- able delay in arranging for this conference or in choosing the We must have unquestioned personnel of the British mission. control and maintenance of nothing was being done, Some people speak as though through communications from the warm water port of Basrah to the "Study of the whole problem Caspian Sea (cheers) Bus Stat has been c
“It is from this point particu- ceaselessly proceeding larly that American supplies can in the US. and here and we are waiting for the arrival of the be carried into the centre of Raf American mission under Mr. sia in an ever-widening flow "Thus the position both on the soon be here.
Harriman which, I trust will and British supplies as well.
"Every effort will be made to move did not find 'us' wholly un- "The occupation of -Syria by western and' eastern flanks of the
improve railway communications prepared," We had a right and the Army of the Nile carried Nile Valley has been greatly im-]: “Our mission will be headed and to expand the volume of sup- duty to protect our communica- with it the means of securing proved. A marked recovery has by Lord Beaverbrook who has plies which can be transported tions through Iraq and orders safety at Cyprus and all this part heen made from the unfortunate already been in the closest con- over the existing British-gauge were immediately given to send to of the Levant came into a far setback coming after the victories ference with the President. railway which has happily only Basra an Indian division which more satisfactory position.
over the Italians at the beginning
recently been complated and now had been held in readiness for this] "Our naval and air control of April.
No Time To Be Lost requires only a large access of mergency..
over the castorn end of the "ALTOGETHER WE ARE, EN-
rolling stocic, and locomotives to "Hoping perhaps to secure Moditerranean became effective TITLED TO BE CONTENT WITH We already have a military expand it greatly as a line of sup from us recognition of his liio-and we obtained direct con| THESE FAVOURABLE! DE+ | mission with officers of high | ply, z mo 'gai" rogimo," Raschid All ~ pre- tact with our Turkish friondo, VELOPMENTS:
rank in Moscow. Those whom (Continued on Page 3
1.
L
"This