Evening star., 1941-12-30

being held in increasing respect by
nine Frenchmen out of every 10
throughout the once happy, smiling
land of France.
But now, sir, strong forces are at
hand; the tide has turned against
the Hun. Britain, which the men Of
Bordeaux thought and then hoped
would soon be finished; Britain, with
her empire around her, carried the
weight of the war alone for a whole
long year through the darkest part
OF the valley.
She is growing stronger every day,
You can feel it. You can see it
here in Canada. Any one who has
the slightest knowledge Of our af-
fairs is aware that very soon we
shall be superior in every form of
equipment, to those who have taken
us at the disadvantage of being but
half armed. The Russian armies,
under their warrior leader, Joseph
Stain, are waging furious war with
increasing success along thousand
mile front of their invaded country.
Gen. Auchinleck at the head of
a British South African, New Zea-
land and Indian Army, is striking
down and moDping up the German
and Italian forces who had attempt
ed the invasion of Egypt. Not only,
sir, are they being mopped up in
the desert. but great numbers of
them have been drowned on the way
there by the British submarines and
the Royal Air Force, in which
Australian squadrons play their part.
Battle Around Agedab bia.
AS I speak this afternoon, an i'm
oortant battle is being fought around
Agedabia. We must not attempt to
prophesy its results, but I have good
confidence Sir, all this fighting in
Libya proves that when our men
have equal weapons in their hands
and proper support from the air,
they are more than match for the
Nazi hordes.
In Libya as in Russia. events of
great importance and of most hope
full import have taken place, but,
greatest of all. the mighty Republic
of the United States has entered the
conflict and entered it in a manner
which shows that for her there can
be no withdrawal except by death or
victory.
CAT this point Mr.. Churchill
lapsed briefly into French, ad-
dressing himself to the French
speaking sector of the Dominion
and pledging Britain's help for
"the resurrection of the French
nation~
Now, sir, that the whole Of the
North American Continent Is be-
coming one gigantic arsenal and
armed camp; now that the immense
reserve power of Russia Is gradually
becoming manifest; now that the
long-suffering, unconquerable China
sees help approaching; now that the
outraged and subjugated nations can
see daylight at the end of the tun-
mel, 1t is permissible to take broad
forward view of the war.
Sir. we may observe three main
periods or phases in the struggle
that lies before us. First, there is
the period of consolidation, of COM
bination and of final preparation.
In this period, which will certainly
be marked by much heavy fighting. |
we shall still be gathering our
resisting the assaults of |
the enemy, and acquiring the neces-
sary overwhelming air superiority, |
and shipping tonnage to give our
armies the power to traverse, in |
whatever numbers may be neces-
sary, the seas and oceans which,
except in the case Of Russia, sep
arate us all from our foes.
Phase of Liberation.
1t is only when the vast ship |
program, on which the
United States has already made so
much progress and which you are
aiding. comes into full
food that we shall be able to bring
the whole force Of our manhood and
Of our modern scientific equipment |
to bear upon the enemy. How long
this period will take depends upon
the vehemence of the effort put |
into production in all our war in
dustries and shipyards.
The second phase, sir, which Will
then open, may be called the phase
of liberation. During this phase
we must look to the recovery Of the
territories which have been lost or
which may yet be lost and also
We must look to the revolt Of the
conquered peoples from the moment