Evening star., 1941-12-24

one of the Empire journalists who
sought a word of good cheer for
the South Pacific dominions in the
face of threats to Singapore.
To him, Mr.. Churchill promised
utmost in defensive operations until
such time as favorable conditions
permit the beginning of a general
offensive.
The British leader drew his first
laugh when he was asked about
prospects of a break in German
morale. There may be "windfall"
of this character, he acknowledged.
and as in the case of the first World
War the Allied nations might wake
up some day and find themselves
short of Huns"
When a similar question was
asked later, he cautioned against
banking on this means OF defeating
Hitler advising instead that we
bank on an external knockout.
Thankful for Turn Of Events.
Frequently during his remarks,
Mr.. Churchill displayed his marked
gift for turning phrases-a gift
which has made his speeches and
writings literary achievements.
One OF his most effective an
swers came to generalized ques-
ton about his outlook toward the
war today. In substance. his re-
ply was that he could hardly de-
scribe his feelings of relief at find
ing the Russians victorious and at
viewing America and Britain side
by side in the conflict. For one
who had lived through the lonely
months of 1940-when Britain was
staring closely at defeat-there Is
much in today's picture for which
to thank God, he said.
Asked if he regarded entrance OF
the United States as one OF the
wars great climaxes, he answered
Il sure do and chuckled gleefully
at his Americanism.
He pleased himself, too, when he
recalled that Hitler's armies are now
logging backwards" out of Russia,
looking for a safe place in which to
spend the winter. 1t won't be a
comfortable place he added wryly.
And he drew responsive chuckle
when he admitted to hearing many
rumors of new German offensiveS
but pointed out that he was hardly
in the confidence of the Nazi high
command as to their exact inten-
tions. He would be glad to receive
any information on this matter
which the correspondents might
have, he added
Confident Of Victory.
He was serious, too. at times and
there was no doubling his deter
mined optimism and confidence as
he asserted his full faith that there
will be victory for the nations asso-
ciated in this war against the Axis.
To the idea of a single fighting
command, he posed the difficulty of
finding one person expertly qualified
in all the media of modern warfare
on land, sea and air, and in all quar-
ters of the globe. Not even Napo-
leon would have been equal to such
a responsibility, he said.
That both the President and the
Prime Minister are planning close
cooperation with the other anti
Axis nations-particularly Russia
China and the Netherlands-was in
dicated at several points in theii
remarks
To the suggestion of a four mar
conference between Mr.. Roosevelt
Mr. Churchill, Premier Stain Of
Russia and Gen. Chang Kai-shek
of China. the British Minister
chuckled anew and allowed that il
a good idea 'in principle"
With true instinct for news, h,
closed the conference by declining
to make a Christmas statement" tt
the American people with the ex'
planation that he is doing just tha
at the ceremonies this afternoon or
the south lawn of the White House