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 COMMONS YESTERDAY, THE PRIME MINISTER, MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL SAID THE ENEMY HAD BEEN EMPLOYING A GREAT- ER NUMBER OF U-BOATS AND A LARGER NUMBER OF LONG- RANGE AIRCRAET THAN EVER BEFORE “AND WE MUST EXPECT FURTHER INCREASES.
19
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 ugain the enemy's tactics may change.
"No doubt Hitler would rather finish off Russia, then Britain, be- fore coming to close quarters with the United States. That would be
his accordance with
usual technique of one by one.
"Hitler
however, has,
possible
In
the greatest
also need to prevent munitions supplies now streaming across the Atlantic In the pursuance of the policy of United States Government, from Should he roaching our shores, do go the area of danger zones will again become oceanwide.
No Vain Talk
"In the meanwhile let us bear no vain talk about the Battle of We may the Atlantic being won.
be
the content with
successes which have rewarded patience in- and exertion but war is exhaustible in its surprises.
pro-
and control of the pipeline and other resources,
AMBITIONS "WE HAVE NO
IN SYRIA.
WE DO NOT SEEK SUPPLANT TO REPLACE OR
TISH FOR FRENCH INTERESTS
I "However,
must make i
FRANCE OR SUBSTITUTE BRI- IN ANY PART OF SYRIA. WE ARE ONLY IN SYRIA TO WIN clear that our policy, to which, our Free French allies have sub- scribed, is that Syria shall be handed back to the Syrians who' will assume at the earliest pos- sible moment their independent sovereign rights.
Syrian Autonomy.
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- palitan Vickers Elec- trical Co., who was charged in', 1933 by the Russians with later sabotage and expelled, will be inter- preter to Lord Beaver- brook in the forth- coming
three - power conference in Moscow. The Soviet Govern- ment has intimated its willing assent. ter.
"Do do not propose that the oooo40000000. process of creating an indepen-
dent Syrian government or gov- erniments shall wait until the end of the war. We contemplate con- welcome the arrival stantly increasing the Syrians' tended to of our troops."
share in the administration. Mr. Churchill traced the
"There is no question of the operations in Iraq France maintaining the same gress of
appealed
position which she exercised in and said Raschid Ali constantly to the Germans to ful-Syria before the war and which their promises but only 30 to the French Government had real- 40 German planes arrived from ised must come to an end. Syria and endeavoured tentatively to instal themselves at Baghdad and in the north at Mosul.
Crete Explains
of
"On the other hand, we recog- nise that among all European na-
position of France
ent.
in
Reu-
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 Restant 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 needa (cheere),
"The utmost exertion will be | required from all concerned in production not only to help Rus- sia but to fill the gaps which must now be opened in our long- sought and at last arriving sup- ply.
Subtraction
"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 full flood during the third year of wartime munitions production.
“If the U.S.Vare, to fulfil the task they have set themselves org large installations will have to be established or con- verted and there will have to be a further qurtallment of over consumption clvillan there, as they fully recognise. "We may ourselves expect a "Now a turn to a far wider field.
The magnificent resis-definite reduction in military sup- tance of the Russian armies and plies from America on which we had counted but within certain the skilful manner in which their vast front is being with limits we are prepared to accept drawn in the teeth of the Nazi those facts. Invasion, makes it certain that Hitler's hopes
war of a short with Russia will be dispelled.
Shipping Limitations "Other limiting factors, like time, distance and geography, Hitler's Black Outlook impose themselves upon us. There of transport and
front.
"Already in three months heare limitations tlons the
has lost more German blood than harbour facilities. Above all there
is the limitation of shipping. of special privilege was shed in any Syria is one
single year of "There are only three routes and, so far as any European coun- the last war. Already he faces
-the Arctic, by Ar- tries will have influence in Syria, the certainty of having to main-open
be ham- that of France will be pre-emin-tain his arinies on the whole changel, which may
from the Arctic to the pered by winter ice, the Far East "We did not go to Syria to de- Black Sea, at the end of long, ern route, via Vladivostok, which prive France of her long historic inadequate, assailed and precari-is scowled upon by the Japanese. lines of communication and operates over 7,000 miles of position there except insofar as is ous
of the railway lines, and the route across had necessary to fulfil our obligations through all the severity
Persia, which leads over a 500- Russian
winter, with vigorous
Persian to the Syrian population.
which may
miles stretch from the "There must be no question, counter-strokes even in wartime, of a mere sub-expected from the Russian army. Gulf into the great inland sea, the stitution of Free French interests for Vichy French interests.
"There was an explanation
The Ger- this German failure. man parachute air-borne corps which was doubtless to have oper- ated in Iraq and would have been assisted on their journey across Syria by the Vichy French, been largely exterminated in the Battle of Crete.
Over 4,000 of these specialist troops had been killed and very
"I was asked a question about large numbers of alrcraft-car- riers destroyed. This specialist our relations with Iraq. They are with Qur relations the special and corps was 80 mauled in ferocious fighting that al. Egyot are special in the same way. though they forced us to "I conceive France will 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. tions.
"With great pleasure on1 my homeward voyage I visited Ice- land where we were received with the utmost cordiality by the Gov- ernment and people and where I
With the new Iraq Government had the honour of reviewing large numbers of strong British we had been able to return to a of friendly cooperation and United States forces which, basis no doubt for entirely different which we proposed to follow.
is "The treaty.
now being reasons and
pursuance separate duties, happened to be loyally observed on both sides. engaged jointly in defending this There are still dangers in Iraq all-important island and stepping which require attention but cause stone across the Atlantic from no major anxiety. Nazi intrusion and attack.
in
of
"Very considerable British and U.S. air and naval forces are also assembled in Iceland,
on
have
Cyrenaica Blows "Meanwhile, the eastern flank of the Army of the Nile the army struck twp heavy blows at the German and "Ita, lian forces which have recapturi od Cyrenaica,
"These forces found themselves unable to advance upon Egypt, as had been, foreseen, without des- troying the stronghold of Tobruk, which was firmly held by Austra- lion and British troops..
|
be
Caspian, whereupon the Russians "From the moment when maintain a strong naval force and we have which gives access to the very Russia was attacked cast about for every means of heart of Bussia, namely, the Volga giving the most speedy and ef- Basin, fective help to our new ally.
"Discussion of the military: projects which have been exam- ined would be harmful, Nor will it be possible to enter upon argu- ments on such questions.
"In the field of supply more can be said, I agreed with Pre- sident Roosevelt upon the mes- sent to Stalin, Sage which was The need is urgent and the scale is heavy
Soviet's Need
"A considerable part of the munitions and steel production, of hands. On the other hand the Russia has fallen into the enemy's Soviet disposes of from 10 to 15 million soldiers for nearly all of whom they have, cquipment, and
tms.
UTO aid in the supply of these, masats, to enable them to realise their long continuing force and to organise the opera- tion, off their supplios, will be the task of the Anglo-Amer fean-Russian conference,
Dentz Treachery "The Germans intrigue with "The spacious airfields which the Vichy French in Syria had we constructed and are expand-meanwhile been in full swing, ing there and in Newfoundland, and the Vichy French Governor,
"HEAVY ATTACKS BY QUR will play an ever-increasing part Dentz, in a base and treacherous in the control of the broad waters manner was striving his utmost FORCES IN THE WESTERN DE
to further German interests.. SERT IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY and in the continual flow of a
"Our armies in Greece had AND JUNE, WHILE THEY DID broadening stream
WE HAD of heavy
been evacuated, having lost NOT SUCCEED, AS bombers now acting against Ger-
much equipment: Our western HOPED, IN FORGING. THE many night after night which wil
front In Cyrenalca had been ENEMY TO RETREAT, PLAYED play a decisive part, or one of the
beaten in by the Incursion of A GREAT. PART IN BRINGING decisive parts, in the final vic General von Rommel's Ger- HIM TO A STANDSTILL
man, African Corgo, and we had "All widely circulated German the revolt in Iraq to suppress. boasts that they would be in Suez-vou
Nevertheless we found it pos-by the end of May have thus prov "Our affairs have also prospersible, in conjunction with the Free ed to be in vain.
"Powerful reinforcements have ed in the eastern theatre of war. French to invade Syria. A Free Our relations with Iraq are gov French battalion fought gallant reached the Army of the Nile in verned by a treaty of alllance 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 Records us wide powers equivalent of about four divisions. able to defend Egypt successfully
“Australian -- and for purposes of defence to Ira-
Indian from a German invasion across glan and British interests."
troops distinguished themselves the Western Desert. repeatedly in action.
Marked Recovery.
tory.
Irag Operations
Safety At Cyprus "Thus the position both on the
Demands On Iran
"The Germans were, of course, busy betimes in Persia with their tourists, usual tricks. German 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 Russia.
"We thought it necessary there- ations did not succeed,” Accord- fore to ensure that these machin- ingly we demanded from the Per- sian Government the immediate
tors.ERAN expulsion of their Teutonic, visi
We must have the surren into our hands of all Germans and Italians who are on the mises (cheers). We must have the expulsion of the German and Italian Legations, whose dipl tic status: we of course respec
Unquestioned Control
Y
"There has been no unavoid-
"We must have unquestioned able delay in arranging for this conference or in choosing the control and maintenance of personnel of the British mission through communications from the Caspian Sea (cheers) A MANA Some people speak as though warm water port of Basrab to the "It is from this point particu- nothing was being done,
"Study of the whole problem has been coaselessly proceeding larly that American supplies, can in the US and here and we are be carried into the centre of Rus waiting for the arrival of the sia in an ever-widening flow American mission under Mr. and British supplies as well Harriman which, I trust, will "Every effort will be made to improve railway communications soon be here.
and to expand the volume of sup- plies which can be transported rallway which has happily only over the existing British-gauge- recently been completed and now requires only a large access of rolling stock and locomotives to "We already have a military expand it grently as a line of sup- mission with officers of high |ply.
(Continued on Page 3) rank in Moscow. Those whom
After a reference to Germán in-' filtration and intrigue and the flight of the pro-German Raschid Ali, Mr. Churchill said: "This move did not find us wholly un- "The occupation of Syria by western and eastern flanks of the prepared We had a right and the Army of the Nile carried Nile Valley, has been greatly im- "Our mission will be handed duty to protect our communica- with it the means of securing provąd. A marked recovery has by Lord Beaverbrook who has tioria through Iraq and orders safety at Cyprus and all this part. heen made from the unfortunate already been in the closest con- were immediately given to send to of the Levant came into a far setback conting after the victories ference with the President. Basra an Indian division which more satisfactory position, over the Italians at the beginning had been held in readiness for this emergency?
"Hoping porhaps, to secure, from us recognition of; his "lijo« gal regime, Rashid AIL
pra
"Our" naval and air control of April....... over the eastern end of the "ALTOGETHER WE ARE EN- Moditerranean, bepame affective TITLED TO BE CONTENT WITH
FAVOURABLE DE direct.com-THESE and. Wo obtained tact with "our" Turkish frionda VELOPMENTS,
No Time To Be Lost
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