Evening star., 1941-05-10
Two Bombs for One
To Soften Germany,
Menzies Indicates
AustruIiun Official
Sees Beginning Of
Defect of Nuzis

Defeat of Nuzis
@Just wait" said Robert Gordon
Menzies, Prime Minister of Aus
tralia, at press conference yester-
day in the Australian Legation,
until the British start dropping
two tons of bombs in Germany for
every ton loosed in England, and
see what happens"
Mr. MenzieS smiled family and
added gesture that indicated a
clear belief that the Nazis wouldn't
be able to take it.
Not only, he pointed out, will the
devastating air attacks which Brit
ain plans affect the Nazi morale, but
it will play havoc with their mate
rials resources, such AS oil, and test
their capacity to replace the losses.
And the leader of the Australian
Commonwealth said he thought it
wouldn't be long until the British
were able to launch what he called
the offensive phase of this war.
Well beat those fellows" said
the Prime Minister, If it takes 20
years, though We would rather do
1t in two years or less"
Favors Escorts as Effective.
Asked whether he thought Amer
ica should escort" its aid to the
British with naval vessels, Mr.. Men,
zies replied: I'm bound to say
there's nothing like a good escort.
This is just my own view. I'm not
telling you what to do
The Prime Minister, who is both
genial and terse. and has fair for
candid, pungent phrases, said the
recent Nazi air raids on England
showed British fighters dropping
much too great percentage of
enemy planes than the Nazis can
afford to lose and, he added:
Il think we are seeing the begin
ming of phase that will end in the
defeat of the Nazis.''
Mr.. Menzies conceded, however,
that England had worse trials to
come. though he hadn't the Slight
est doubt of her capacity to with
stand them and push on with the
fight.
AT the appropriate time he
said, speaking fresh from visit to
England, the enemy will attempt
an invasion. He can't win an un-
conquered England and an uncon-
quered British Navy"
Long Offensive Seen.
1t was not that, he added, with
which he was particularly con-
cerned. with Britains ability to fend
off invasion, but with the next phase
of the war-the offensive against
the Germans-which would be "a
very long job. unless all countries
opposed to the Nazis are adequately
marshalled for the job"
Mr.. Menzies said: Whether
America ought to be in the war is
a question for America to decide for
herself"
He pointed out that in Australia
every industrial resource not es-
sential to the civil population is be-
ing turned into war resources. And
this, he indicated. must be done by
every country that wants to see the
Nazis defeated if the war is to be
won at an early date.
Winning the war is not a part
time Job he asserted
Under a cross-fire of reportorial
questions, Mr.. Menzies added: This
is not war for the British Empire,
but war for civilized mankind"
Asked about British war aims"
he recalled that he had said in
speeches at home that the British
were fighting for a world in which
"a fair deal will not be considered
new deal
Avoids Views on Far East.
Mr.. Menzies waved off a requested
Interpretation of the new Japanese
Soviet pact and other Far Eastern
questions, but he did say of Aus
tralia, I'VE are quite determined to
defend ourselves. and we have an
increasing capacity to do So
Asked if it was true the Australian
troops enjoy fighting, their Prime
Minister laughed and answered:
We'll. they do seem to get an un-
holy pleasure out of fighting"
Their casualties in the Greek
campaign. he said, were not nearly
as great as might have been ex-
pected.
Mr.. Menzies was impressed, as
other visitors have been, with the
morale of England and he spoke
particularly of the heroism of Brit
ish women.
He was confident that 100 per
cent mobilization of Americas in
dustrial power for British aid would
change the whole picture in Europe
and presage the early defeat of
Hitler. Victory, he emphasized. de-
pends not only on spirit and disci-
pline, but on equipment.
Mr.. Menzies spent some time with
Secretary of State Hull yesterday.
and said they went over the war
situation in general.
The Australian Prime Minister,
on round-the- world tour, will leave
Washington for the West Monday
night.
RiII for Defence cnntnr