Evening star., 1942-05-11
Churchill Optimistic
In War Report, Warns
Nazis on Poison Gas
Britain Will RetuIiute
In Kind If Germans Spread
Poison, He Declares
(Tert OF ChurchlFS Address on
Page abb
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May II. Prime
Minister ChurchiiPS brightest
war report so far was over
shadoWed today by the terrible
prospect of gas warfare which
he met yesterday with his warn
ing to Germany that Britain
could, and would, strike back
formidably If the Nazis dared tc
start it.
The British attitude was one OF
adherence for the use of gas, but
of confidence that Germany would
invite disaster for her cities and
people by starting it--and had bet
ter think twice if. as the Russians
have reported. she is testing it on
the Crimean front.
(Mr. Churchill's statement was
made a little more than "a hours
after Tass, Soviet news agency,
had distributed for the first time
dispatch reporting that the
Germans had used poison gas on
the Crimean front)
British newspapers, recalling that
Mr.. Churchills accuracy had fore
seen events at hand in the past,
took for granted that he spoke of
an imminent possibility. They re-
newed warnings to civilians to carry
gas masks and their military writers
dwelt on Britains capacity to wage
such warfare.
Says Balances Have Turned.
The Daily Mails air correspondent
said mo power" was better equipped
than Britain for it and that the
Nazis' knowledge of that 80 far
has dissauded Germany from court
ing even more disastrous reprisal
than that which has answered her
introduction of bombing towns and
merchant ships"
Speaking two years after the Ger
mans had stormed across France to
Dunkerque, 20 miles from England's
shore, when he could promise moth
ing but blood, sweat and tears "
amid the darkness of Western Eu-
ropes collapse, Mr.. Churchill yes
terday gave Britain and her Allies
what he called a well-earned mes
sage of good cheer" 1t was his Sec
ond anniversary as Prime Minister
He declared the awful balances"
finally had turned and now I'VE
have only to endure and perservere
to conquer"
COntrasted even with his last mes
sage, when he Informed the Brit
ish Empire that Singapore had
fallen, Mr.. Churchill yesterday gave
it heartening news from all conti-
nents-of an impending mighty
American-British bombing offensive
against Germany, of the salwart de-
fense and growing strength of "our
Russian ally" of the occupation of
Madagascar, of British and Amer
lean seapower in the Pacific which
he said would grip and hold the
japanese"
Sure of Ultimate Victory.
Many of his passages rang with
assurance and determination, touch
ing On events still to come and on
accomplishments already on the
credit side of the Allies ledger.
Among the most significant were
these:
Ultimate victory:
'As in the last war we are NOV
ing through many reverses and de-
feats to complete and final victory.
I'VE have only to endure and per-
severe to conquer.
Now we are not alone. We have
mighty allies - there can be
but one end
Gas:
II wish to make it plain that we
shall treat the unprovoked use of
poison gas against our Russian ally
exactly as if it were used against
ourselves and if we are satisfied
that this new outrage has been COM
mitted by Hitler we will use our
great and growing air superiority
in the west to carry gas warfare
on the largest possible scale far
and wide against military objectives
in Germany"
Hltler great mistake
I'm June last, without provoca-
ton and in breach of pact of nom
aggression, he invaded the lands of
the Russian peoples he had
the strongest army in the world,
trained in war. flushed with in
credible, unbroken successes and
equipped with limitless NUM-
tionS
The Russians sustained
losses which no other country or
government has ever borne in so
short a time and lived.
Heavy Nazi Casualties in Russia.
Then Hitler made his second
grand blunder. He forgot about
the winter, No one can say
with certainty how many millions
of Germans have already perisheo
In Russia. Certainly more
have perished than were killed in
the whole four and one-fourth year,
of the last war" 1,773, TOO German!
were killed and total German cas-
ualties, including wounded captured
and missing, were 7,142, ,558 in 1914
1879
Air attacks:
"We are on his tracks. The
British and presently the American
bombing offensive against Germany
will be one of the principal features
In this years World War.
80 Now, while the German
armies will be bleeding and burning
up their strength against a 1000
mile Russian front and when The
news of casualties by the hundred:
of thousands is streaming back tt
the German Reich, now is the time
to bring home to the German people
the wickedness of their rulers By
destroying under their very eyes th'
factories and seaports on which
their war effort depends
Militant Spirit Welcome.
Second front:
I'VE are urged from many quar-
ters to invade the continent o
Europe and so form second front
Naturally, shall not disclose wha
our intentions are But there is on
yHelNnrraa