1941-06-11 — Page 13

Wednesday,

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

June 11 1941.

FULL REPORT OF PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH BRITAIN BUILDING HUGE AIR FORCE IN RESOLVE TO HOLD MIDDLE EAST

LONDON, June 10 (Reuter).—Mr. Winston Churchill began his reply to the poorly in ale power, was able to very accomplished in his profession, debate in the House of Commons in an easy confident tone. The Prime Minister declared that nobody could possibly complain of the tone, temper and matter of the debate.

came

The kind of criticism we had to-day-some was very searching-was the kind that the Government not only accepted but welcomed. However, the way in which the debate about was enlculated to give a feeling of challenge to the security of the administration, From the viewpoint of advan-and Heinkel aircraft whose depre- uncertainty and disturbance

serious considerations.

which

tage to the country, that raised dallons have been lessened thereby, is caused thereby.

"Again we must consider whether "The output of anti-aircraft guns

It would

a serious view because of the inter- have done. ests confided to our core. be a mistake if the House got into the habit of

on varying episodes in this

I calling for explated!

and widespread struggle and

for an account to be given when any

action was lost or any part of the front was beaten in.

.

ori

a

our

another

45,000-ton

hands.

"I should feel under 7

M

own use.

drive our alreraft from the alrßelts he cannot know and ought not to in Greece and, adding this to his know facts ns. they are understood enormously superior anti-aircraft at secret meetings. batteries, he was able to make these At the same time one is appealed alrields rapidly available for his to ceaselessly to give more informa-

tion

malte the war more interest- Influence of Weather

ing to people, and tell them more "Morcover as the scaron was ad-about what is going on, but it is not vancing, many more airfields became possible for the Head of the Govern→ avalkable to him as the weather im-ment or even the Chiefs of Staff to proved and dried them up. It was scrutinise beforehand these detailed evident, therefore, that an attack on weekly statements which are made.

"I certainly think the matter must Crete, if it were made,, would be

for be reconsidered (Hear, hear). As primarily in order to abre hostile have said; nobody has illusions about which again a vastly superior the tremendous scale of airborne air force would be available.

The question arose whether we should try to defend Crete or yield It without light.

Nobody who bears responsibility for the decision to defend Crete was ignorant of the fact that conditions permitted only the most meagre British air support

occupy it without opposition.

Terrible Alternatives "Some say that we should never fight without superior or at least ample air support and ask when this lesson will be learned.

bad.

AS I

attack, the greatest ever delivered in the world, and that we should resist it without any but the most restricted air support on our side.

and

-

There our airfelds at home and our air is at last rapidly expanding, but the were all kinds of paragraphs and factories or ports and cities which fact remains that our outils are in reports in the newspapers that are under heavy, dangerous attacks comparably Inferior in numbers to denuded thosé postéssed by the Germans, and there was grave uncasiness and should have been further

ar stinted of guns in the last six a very great claim has to be weighed demanding a "full accounting."

Therefore, one was bound to take months for the sake of lie war in against every other claim.

the Middle East beyond what we

Air Strength "Another general question which

Battle For Crete "Further, everything we send to the may fairly be asked is why have we

"Let us look at the anatomy of this Middle East is out of action the best not much stronger and much larger to be provided for our troops in the battle for Crete, which was under- We part of three months as it has tour forces in the Middle Fament the island or the Fleet operating round taken in bleak circumstances. go round the Cape."

only say that from the

the island. Battle of Britain was decided In our H

It was not a fact that hoped that the 25,000 or 30,000 good Great Risks Run

favour in September and October dawned upon the military and other troops-1 am making it a little vagued

decision had with artillery and a

portion of Mr* Churchill continued: "We last year by the victories of our authorities after the have run very great risks and have fighters, we have been ceaselessly of a difficult and haral: choice whe be able to destroy parachute

been taken. It was the foundation tanks aided by Greek forces, would In the first place, no full explana- faced very serious maulings in this sending aircraft as fast as possible to ther Crete should be defended with glider landings by the artery and tion could possibly be given without island in order to sustain the war the Middle East by every route and out effective air support or whether prevent him from using the airfields revealing valuable information to in the Mediterranean, and nobody every method. the enemy, not only about a particu- can be judge of whether we should "During the present year, as our the Germans should be permitted to or harbours.

"Our army

was to destroy lar operation which was ended but have run more risks or exposed our-strength in the air has grown, we

borne attacks while the navy held about the general position and also selves to heavier punishment at home have not been hampered as we were

off and destroyed seaborne attacks. the processes of thought which for the sake of fortifying and multi- in the case of the anti-aircraft guns

time limit. were followed by our war direction plying the Cretan airfields without by the lack of aircraft. The problem

But there was

"The action of the Navy in main- and High Command.

having a full and intimate know-has been to send them to the eastern

taining the northern sen guard with- There was always a danger that a ledge of all our resources and mak-theatre of war.

But suppose you cannot have it? out adequate air defence was bound Minister might, in seeking to vin-

Enemy Advantage complete survey of the various diente the course we had pursued, claims upon them.

"Anyone can see how great inc The questions to be settled are not to be very costly. It is known how inadvertently say something which "We did, however, from the mo- German advantages and how easy it always between what is good and serious were those losses.

Very often, it is a chofee be-

"We could only stand a certain supply the with some ment Government the Germans to move their essential and perhaps seemingly in- us into Crete, take steps to defend force from one alde op Europe to tween two very terrible alternatives, proportion of naval losses before the Fleet nocent-looking fact about which the the anchorage of Suda Bay as an another. They can dy along a line if you cannot have this essential and northern sea guard of the

Wherever desirable air support, must you yleid would have to be withdrawn. enemy was in doubt and thus enable important naval base, to develop the of permanent airfields.

provide

per important key points, one after an-If, meanwhile, the army could suc- the enemy to construct a comprehen- aerodrome nearby and

a they alight and refuel, there are

ceed in biting off the head of the sive and accurate picture of the way base and drome with the largest moment uirfields in the highest state other?

"Others have told me: "You should whole terrifle apparatus of the air in which we were looking at things. quantity of high and low ceiling guns of efficiency and as for services and

without defend no place that you cannot be borne invasion before the naval time Dictators' Advantage which we thought it fit to divert from personnel and all stores,

other atrategic points in the Mediter-which squadrons are quite useless. sure that you con hold. Then one limit or loss limit was reached, then to begin these can go by the Grand

Con noti rancan, Dictator Governments were

must ask: Can one ever be sure how the enemy would have had to tinental expresses along the main' a battle will develop before it is even all over again, and having regard to CX- under any similar pressure to

Too Many Near Bases

i fought?* European lines.

the enormous and unprecedented plain or excuse any Ill success that!

One has

this only to compare "If the principle of not defending scale of the operation and the losses "We provided, in fact, a deterrent might befall them

"Unlike these pretentious, formid- to enemy attack sufficiently to re-process with sending aircraft, packed any place you cannot be sure of he would have to incur, he might able potentates. I am only a servant quire a major effort on lus part. But in crates, then put on ships and sent holding were adopted, would not the well for a time have at least broken an un-it off-at any rate there would have of the Crown with considerable res- there are many islands and strategic on great occan spaces until they reach enemy be able to make

con- been a long delay before he could ponsibility

upon me," continued Mr points in the scas, and to attempt to the Cape of Good Hope, then taken limited number of valuable Churchill, The House would not be safe everywhere is to make sure to Egypt to be set up again, tuned quer's without any Bghting at all? have mounted it again.

That was the basis whereon 2 wish any servant whom they have of being strong nowhere. Therefore, up and put in the air when they where would you make a stand and

decision was reached, estrusted with such duties to be at if the House were able to go in dehus the Germans can do in days

arrive.

engage them with resolution?

Making Nazis Pay

Key To The East disadvantage

mig tail into these matters, they antagonists.

"The further

"What would our critics have said question arises: "I have not heard that Hitler had feel that a reasonable and right dis- what it take us weeks or even more to attend the Reichstag and tell them position of our forces was made, but to do. This reflection has no bear- What would happen if you allowed if we had given up Crete without why he sent the Bismarck on her without going into facts and Bgures, ing upon possible German movements the enemy to advance and over-run, firing a shot? We should have been precious and valuable strategic told that we had surrendered to the the key of the Eastern few weeks and choosing his apparit is quite impossibile for the House be executed very secretly if they points? Suppose we had never gone enemy disastrous cruise when, by waiting a which nobody would wish me to do, back from cast to west which could tunity when perhaps Our capital or even for the newspapers to arrive resolve upon assault on this country to Greece or attempted to defend Mediterranean, that our communica- Transfer Difficulties

Crete. Where would the Germans tons with Malta and our power to ships were dispersed on convoy duty, at a justly-proportioned and level

"We have done, are doing and will be now?

Interrupt the enemy's communion- she might have gene out, accompani- judgment on this affair.

were with Libya do our utmost to build up the largest

grievously ed by the Tirpitz,

A.A. Guna

"Suppose we simply resign terri- tions with "But a man must be a perfect fool possible air force in the Middle East. tory and strategic islands without a endangered. ship, and offered us battle.

There is only too much truth in "Neither have I heard any con-who thinks that we have large quan-It is not a matter of aircraft, but fight. Might they not at this carly! vincing statement by Mussolini why tities of A. guns and aircraft lying solely transportation-not in the stage of the campaign in 1941 already all that, although, perhaps, It will a greater part of his African Empire about unused at the present time. sense of shipping tonnage but as to be masters of Syria and Iraq and pre-not in the end turn out badly.

"Crete was an important salient in has been conquered and over 200,000 As far as A.A. guns are concerned, the time it takes to transfer under paring themselves for an advance

into Persia?

our line of defence, like Fort Douau- of his soldiers are prisoners in our isrge and expanding as is our pre- the conditions of the present war.

"As to the disposition of our nir "The Germans in this war inve mont at Verdun in 1910, and like sent production, every single gun is disadvantage if I were obliged in action at some necessary point or force in the Middle East. It is pri-ained many victories. They have Kemmel Fill in 1018. These were.

needless In

matter for the Commanders- easily over-run great countries and taken by the Germans, but in ench and all future production for marlly a other, an

with case the Germans lost the battle, and public debate to give an account of many months ahend is eagerly com-in-Chief in the Middle East, though beaten down strong Powers

also the campaign, and in the end our operations Irrespective of whe-peted for by rival claimants with the Government share full respon- little resistance. It is not only

for whatever is done. ther...ike... time was suitable or

strongly, even at-a-disadvantage, for that--the-same-result would nuisance if Parliament had demanded

vices is carried to a very "In March, 1937, I mentioned to

Air Omeer lives in the vitally important principle of stub-fought for Douaumont and Kemmel debate on the loss of the Hood the

Com ready 1,500 mobile A.A. guns which same house in Calro

Airfields Not Mined explain the measures we had taken could be formed into batteries in mander-in-Chief. The Naval Com- or resistance to the will of the Hill?

Fatal Doctrine

"These battles can only be judged to secure the destruction of the Bis-addition to the whole of their static mander-in-Chiet has to be at sea very artillery of anti-aircraft defence. often. He has to be at Alexandria,

"These are some arguments that in their relation to the campaign as Choosing The Occasion Since then, they have been making but the very closest association exists

these two branches. between have

deserve to be considered before you whole. I have been asked why "I always take very great pains to them at a great rate and they

Full Co-Ordination

can adopt the rule that you have were the Cretan air@elds not mined serve the House and always to as-also conquered more than all

The iden that any one of thes a certainty of winning at any point beforehand or again why they were nat commanded by long-range gun- soclate the House with events, and want from the many countries they

and that you

have not got it before-

more It would be better if were permit-have overthrown. So our position is problems would be studied by any hand, you must clear out. The whole fire or why there were not

one of these Commanders without ted, on behalf of the Government, to very different indeed from theirs." choose the occasion for

the closest association with the other history of war shows the fatal ab-tanks allotied to their defences and Hore-Belisha's Remarks

surdity of such a doctrine.

"1.con answer these questions but statement about the war, which

"To-day, Mr Hore-Belisha made a two is quite illusory.

Here someone queried "Who has

"It has been repeatedly proved I do not propose to discuss tactics that fierce and stubborn resistance here because it is quite impossible very cogent, moderate, well-mformed most anxious to do (Cheers).

"Another general reason why and thoughtful contribution to the the Bnal say?"

Mr Churchill declared "It isn't so even against heavy odds and under for us to fight battles in detall either on debate, but he used a very different debate

ог No disagreement exceptional conditions of local dis- beforehand

afterwards should have deprecated a

from Commons. the fighting in Crete is that it is mood and lone in the speech which much a final say.

that I know

is an essential element in Whitehall or from the has prisen.

advantage only one part of a very important that makes it necessary for me to factor in the business, and the Fleet delivered in

in the country. "Obviously, the Army is the main

Majesty's Government, in their complicated ciddle East and can

"The decision to fight for Crete responsibility to Parliament choose which is being that the state in which our army is preserving the security of the was taken with the full knowledge the best generals they can find, sci fought in the only be reviewed as one" part.

before them the broad stra

strategic campaign, offer them any "To select one particular sector of ended his tenure of the War Office Army on the seas, and preserving that nir support would

Alt minimum as anyone can see-apart objects of our widely extended front for de- during the greater part of which he command of the seas, and the

Force is assisting the Ariny and from the question whether you have advice or counsel that may seem fit- adequate supplies or not-who mea- ting, ask the necessary searching misleading method of examining and supply, was lalable.

"But in the event of any differ-sures the distance from our pirfields questions and then support them to the conduct of the war. The vast were short of every esse supply,

but most

clai ences, they can be settled in a few in Egypt and compares them with the best of their power in men and of special particularly of scene can only be surveyed

hours by reference here. These the distances from enemy airfields in munitions, and also so long as they whole and ought not to be debated classes of modern weapons, anti-Commanders have to settle it among Greece, and who acquaints himself retain their confidence, they support piecemeal, especially at a time when aircraft guns, anti-tank guns and the operations, which are nll re-tanks themselves, which have proved themselves, though we share full with the radius of dive-bombers and them with loyal comradeship in

Battles of Last War lated to one another, are wholly in- a vital necessity of modern war and responsibility for whatever is done. alreratt

"Apart from the effort we have Takes Full Responsibility complete.

which he is now prepared to suggest made in Greece, which was very "I take the fullest personal re- "It is impossible to go into tactics! Factor of Time

we are so purblind and out-dated

but detalls and I never remember in the In aircraft, the situation in ponsibility for that decision. costly in [as not be able to comprehend,

Defence last war in those great battles which "Into the general survey

Iraq and Palestine, and potentially the Chiefs of Staff, the Intervention war come all sorts of considerations

In Syria, as well as the winding-up Committee, and General Wavell all cost something like 40,000, 30,000

170,000 men—I am talking of battles about gain and loss of time, and its (Here Mr Hors-Belinha Intervened of the Abyssinian story, have all not only thought that of a single day and in which some-

circumsionses effect upon the future as well as the to point out that in Belgium we lost made very heavy demands upon our be defended in the

the which were fully before

but times there were grave errors made, entire distribution of our available the finest lot of equipment that ever aircraft, and the altuation in resources to meet the many calls left British shores, He asked

the Western Desert had also to be con- that in spite of lack of air support, they were not often made the subject Premier to recall that up till very sidureti.

we had a good chance of winning arraignment of the Government upon them.

"For instance, Sir John Wardlaw recently before the war, the Pariin

Theatres of War

(the battle.

"Nobody had any illusions about "It is only where grave strategie Milne anked why it was, when wement and country were opposed to

"Before any rational judgment the scale of the

issues of policy come, that it is fitting enemy air-borne and Crete in our possession for more the creation of a Continental could be formed on the disposition attack. We knew that it would be for us here to endeavour to fitter

ho nevertheless than six months, that we did not which

of our air force and the consequent

opinion. Defeat intle and Intense. Reconnaissance There is no use in trying to explam construct numerous airfields and place cren Churchill

failure to supply adequate air force over Greek aerodromes showed the defent. People do not like defcal them in the highest state of

proceeded;"

Crete, it would bo -necessary, tis fence, and he reminded us how very dealing not with the particular equine in the case of anti-aircraft guns, to were

enormous mass of aircraft

which

und do not Uke explanations, how- were gathering there--many cfilelently

the Germans would have ment of the troops who went

Jever elaborate or plausible. The know the done such work if Crete had fallen France, who naturally drained

only what are our whole rest of our resources, but the equip. resources, but also what is the situg-dreds and it turned out that the only answer, to defeat is victory.

nl. enemy was prepared to pay an their ban

"If the Government in war-lime into

cannot that it ment of our army at that time and ton in these theatres which are all most unlimited price for this con- gives, the impression, that it Everyone Will admit

quest and his resources, which con in the would have been a mistake to make at the outbreaks of the war; it wax Intimately inter-related.

doficient

Its explanations? It ought great number of airfields in Crete of the most mengre and

"It is no use trying to judge there centrated upon any, pariicular point, in the long run procure victory, who overwhelming

to go; that is if you are quite sure unless we could find the anti-character and these defiet neies made matters without full itnowledge. Full often bo

still knowledge cannot be made public,

point."

that you can find another which can aircraft guns, both of high and low themselves most marked and

"I come to the next stage of my Unofficial Broadcasts. do better. celling, and aircraft to defend those make themselves most marked in the airfields, for that would simply have very type of weapons for

which argument. I have shown the found-

Referring to statements which had Steady Government facilitated the daccent of the enemy's there is the greatest possible demand.ations upon which we started, and been ascribed to spokesmen of the

"However, no Government alr-bome troops upon the island. Not Throwing Blame 7 now go a step forward,

War Office and Air Ministry, the conduct a war unless it stands Balkan War

thal Prime Minister declared To answer the question why not

stable foundation and The cold and "I am not throwing all blame for] ►

broadcasts "In March we decided to go to the officers who give these enough guns were provided for the this upon Mr Hlore-Bellsha, but he two serviceable airfields in Crete, has a great responsibility in this aid of Greece in accordance with our are not acquainted with the control tutowa that it, like a great ship, cart

win through a

of storms into perjod of one would have to conafter whether matter and when he speaks in this Treaty obligations. This, of course, if affairs and with what is decided

asu | clearer. we could spare them for that put- way it is only fair to point out that exposed us to the danger of, being) or thought or folt in the Chiefs of trong Impregat: Unless there is a

been Acheli one

have

It would, for instance, have very often massive cases behindity nation-between-tho-ser-estion of time gained by fighting lost the war, but can you be sure before we had been in a position to the House that the Germans had al-The Chief to a very high pileh. important points, but there is also the been achieved if the Allies had not

marck.

1 am

say

they

was left when Mr Hore-Belisha had

Dy

the

bate is a particularly lop-sided arid was also responsible for production

Lion Fleet in all their functions.

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the

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Go on.

failure or success.

in the Commons.

that at

2

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Access To Information disappointing period.. very great number of guns which tremely violent and hostile speeches come narrower line.

"If a government has always to be Hft is very risky to make a profes might usefully have been deployed have been spread about, doing much "If Greece was over-run by the In Crete, have been and are being harm and about which I have re-enemy, it seemed probable that Crete aional officer to give a weekly ex- looking over. Its shoulder (0) ROD mounted on merchant vessels to celved information from different would be the next object of attack, pallation on the war when he whether it is going to be stabbed in best of the attacks of Fokker Wulf countries and capitals, showing, the The enemy, with his vast local · su- nature of things, although he may be TURN 19 Pro / Columa One

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