We Now Face Stark Realities

MUCH might be said about the merits and demerits of the copra-producers’ relief plan, des cribed elsewhere; but, since the unhappy planters have been com pelled by slow-moving bureaucracy to wait so long, they might as well wait a little longer. We shall know, in three months, what fate holds in store for us.

We face now what appears to be the crisis of the Hitler War. If Hitler cannot smash the British Em pire in this 1941 European summer (already half gone), we shall survive, and have a considerable voice in fix ing the shape of the post-war world.

If our defences fail, we shall be oc cupied with matters more vital than production and transport.

Germany, having defeated us over whelmingly with air-force technique in the Battle of Crete, is almost cer tainly now assembling vast forces, for the invasion of Britain. It will not be one attempt, or series of attempts, but a continuous attack, extending over many weeks. She will try to counter British sea-power and grow ing air-power, by applying the methods proved in Crete, supported by the terrific weight of 8,000,000 highly-organised troops.

TT seems that this attack must come A —Germany must smash us be fore she can consolidate and capitalise her victories, and set the whole world goose-stepping, to her orders. She

has mauled us in Greece, and Libya, and Crete; she has forced the guts less men of Vichy to pledge to her the “collaboration” of France; she has put 2,000,000 men on the western frontiers of Russia, so as to compel the terror-stricken Mr. Stalin to promise “economic collaboration”; she has given her orders to Japan.

She has only one more river to cross —Anglo-American resistance—and the world is hers, and the Nazi gangsters may enter the heaven of their de sires.

If only she can smash Britain, she can deal with the United States at her leisure—mostly by Fifth Column ists, from within. But Britain is a tough proposition. She was to be invaded by air in daylight attacks— but m August and September the British airmen defeated the Luft waffe, decisively. She was to be laid flat m night raids—but in April and May our night-fighters, with “some thing new”, got the measure of the night-bombers. She was to be starved out by submarine blockade: but, now science is beating the U-boats and we are winning the Battle of the Atlantic. Already, in rapidly-growing masses, our Anglo-American bombers are daily attacking the enemy’s Channel ports, and nightly smashing Germany’s industrial cities.

TTITLER knows that Britain must “ be invaded now—next year will

be too late. The whole world is wait ing. If we lose the invasion battle, Germany will dominate Europe, Italy will rule Africa, Japan will have Asia and most of the Pacific; Russia will submit; and the Axis Powers will divide spoils in the Americas. If we keep out the invaders, Germany’s “European Federation” plan will be knocked cock-eyed, Japan will stay neutral, the armed forces of the United States will come to our assist ance, and Russia and the now en slaved countries of Europe probably will turn against the Huns.

But the coming battle is vital. On it depends our future, and the future of our civilisation. If the Nazis rule the world, we shall enter another Dark Age, which may last for a couple of centuries.

What of America, and what of the Mediterranean? The Middle East battles are important—but only a side-show, compared with the Battle of England. As for USA—the Presi dent alone cannot declare war, and, incredible as it may seem, and al though 75% of people are for war, there is an anti-war majority in both houses of Congress. USA is our ally in all but name. For the “but” we must thank the Hearst press, and the professional politicians. If we can hold off the Hun, and thus convert his 1940-41 victories into a stalemate, USA probably will join us, and help us to turn it into a Nazi defeat.

But everything depends upon the events of the next 14 weeks.