Evening star., 1941-09-30
Churchill Hints Invasion Plan:
Shipping Loss Cut Two-Thirds;
Seizure of Air Control Claimed
Enormous u. S. Aid
To Soviet Needed,
Commons Told
fTert OF Churchill Address on
Page A-l0.)
Nv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Sept. 30.-Britaln
has seized the initiative from
Germany in the air, has cut
shipping losses tWo-thlrdS IN
three months, and has several
times" considered invasion OF the
German dominated continent,
Prime Minister Churchill told the
House of Commons today in a
broad war review, which was the
most optimistic he yet has given,
Adolf Hitler is suffering from a
"verv serious shortage in air power,
Mr.. Churchill said, but for the rest
he still retains the initiative and we
have not had the force to take II
from him"
Mr.. Churchill did not thus rule
out the possibility of a British IN
vasion of the continent, however, re-
marking that Hitler does not tell
us his plans and I do not see why
ve should tell him ours"
In every respect except in the air,
he said, Germany remains so strong
that Britain's own peril of invasion
Is not past and only "enormous" J"
conversion of United States fac
tories to produce war material can
keep Russia on the firing line in
definitely.
Important Supplies Sent.
MANY important supplies already
have been dispatched to Russia by
Britain. Mr.. Churchill disclosed,
mentioning aircraft, aluminium, cop
per. rubber and oil, and remarking
that "it may be that transportation
rather than willingness or ability to
give will prove in the end the linn
iting factor
To keep Russia in the fight, sac
rifices of the most serious and ex-
treme kind will be necessary by the
British people" he said.
Russian Ambassador Ivan M.
Maisky leaned over the diplomatic
gallery rail, intent on every word of
the Prime Minister'S report and
cheering throatily at each of the
frequent references to the Soviet
Union.
Suggesting that the war would
last at least through 1912, Mr..
Churchill said the enemy's air
shortage is very serious shortage,
but for the rest he still retains the
initiative. He has the divisions, the
weapons and the ample means Of
transportation in Europe"
Broad Review of Situation.
II Germany should take a de-
fensive stand in Russia. it certainly
would be in Hitler's power to launch
simultaneously attacks against Brit
ain, Africa and Spain, the Prime
Minister declared in broad review
of the war situation on this third
anniversary of the ill-starred Munich
pact which sought peace by appease-
nent of the Nazis.
Despite the grave warnings he
gave, emphasizing that winter gives
no assurance that the danger of in
vasion will be entirely lifted from
this island" Mr.. Churchill said Brit
aims position in shipping, food re-
serves and many other ways was
better than ever
I'VE have climbed from the pit of
peril onto a fairly broad plateau,
he asserted.
I'VE can see before us the diff
cult and dangerous upward path
that we must tread, but we can also
feel the parallel movement of con-
vergence of two mighty nations,
Russia and the United States"
British official figures for losses of
British, Allied and neutral shipping
useful to Britain are 589,273 tons for
April, 497,847 for May, and 329 296
for June. a total of 1,416.416 tons,
but showing a consistent decline.
Two-thirds less apparently would
be total of only about 472, 900 tons
for the entire three months of July,
August and September.
Mr. Churchill said that during the
three months just ending, Britain's
slaughter of enemy shipping is one
and one-half times that of the three
previous months, and is increasing
by leaps and bounds"
From March Is to August 16 Brit
iSh figures show losses of German
(See CHURCHILL, Page A-10D