Evening star., 1941-12-31
Churchill Praises
Philippine Defense;
Warns japanese
Wants Decisions on Grunc
Strategy to Be Expressed
In Deeds and Not Words
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
OTTAWA, Ontario, Dec. 81
Prime Minister Churchill praised the
defense of the Philippines by Amer
lean and Filipino forces today and
said he thought the japanese were
IN for some surprises before the fight
ended.
Asked by London reporter at a
press conference if he thought the
British would hold Singapore, he
responded, Il sure do"
The Japanese have something
coming to them one of these days"
he asserted in answer to a question
as to when the Allies would bomb
the Japanese.
he is continuing to discuss grand
strategy Of the war with President
Roosevelt, he said, and he added
that he hoped the decisions would
be expressed ~in deeds and not In
words
He said the Free French seizure
Of st. Pierre and Miquelon Islands
was without the assent of Britain,
the United States or Canada, but
declined to 90 into details and ex-
pressed confidence the controversy
would be settled.
He said he regarded the matter as
minor. compared with other business
now under way.
Losses Fifth of Former Rate.
OF the battle of the Atlantic, he
said: In February We were con-
cerned over the high rate of losses
of ships, but now we have managed
so as to keep the U-boats farther
out. break their link with Nazi
planes, arm our merchantmen, and
allowing for new British building
we have reduced our losses to one
fifth the former rate.
I'VE now feel confident that we
can carry on our conveys until the
great flow of ships begins coming
from the United States"
There's a lot of good stuff on
the way" but, he added with en-
phasis. I'VE want more"
He told press conference he did
not have much hope of Italy falling
out OF the war soon.
I'm afraid the organ grinder has
the monkey too firmly by the collar" :"
he said
He said the holding of Hong Kong,
with the assistance of Canadian
troops. as long as 1t was possible was
most important.
He said he regarded the Free
French seizure of ST. Pierre and
Miquelon Islands "as a very minor
matter compared with other things
now going on"
In Gay and Witty Mood.
Sitting at crimson brOcade-cov-
cred table on a dias under a green
-white-striped canopy in the
vaulted racquets court of Govern
ment House, Mr.. Churchill was in
gay and witty mood.
When one of the nearly 200 Ca
madam. British. American and
Australian newspapermen asked,
Have the Allies received any recent
peace feelers?" he replied:
The Axis must be hard pressed
for materials of all kinds and can't
afford to waste ink and paper"
He said he had made only one
New Year resolution-"To go on do
ing my best to keep things going in
the right direction"
Lists Phases of War.
Bristling with confidence, Mr..
Churchill told this dominion yester-
day that the conduct, of the war
must reach its climax in allied as
sault upon the citadel and home
land OF guilty powers, both IN
Europe and in Asia
Speaking to an immediate in
formal session of the Canadian
Parliament in the green room of
the House of Commons and a
vast radio audience beyond, Mr.,
Churchill declared the wars forth
coming three phases were:
l. Consolidation and final prep
aration. a period which will Ger
tainly be marked by much heavy
fighting"
2. The phase of liberation. dur
Ing which I'VE must look to the re-
covery Of the treasures which have
been lost or which may yet be lost; ="
3. The assault on the Axis own
strongholds.