Evening star., 1942-12-01
Churchill Looks Ahead

Churchill Looks Ahead
Prime Minister Winston Churchills
verbal sketches of the world picture
are always notable events. The first
of this memorable series, spoken
nearly two and one-half years ago,
when Britain was reeling from the
Dunkirk disaster and lay under
the fell shadow of the Luftwaffe,
breathed last-ditch defiance but held
out scant encouragement for the i'm
mediate future. Subsequent speeches
recording a slow betterment in Brit
aims fortunes permitted more opti-
mistic analyses, yet firm faith in ul-
innate victory was always coupled
with grim insistence on the magni-
tude of the task, whose accomplish
ment was conditioned by the famous
Churchillian formula of blood,
sweat and tears" Never did the
Prime Minister even approximately
attempt to predict either the length
of the war or the form which vic
tory would assume.
Last Sunday, for the first time,
Mr.. Churchill indicated that, in the
European war theater, at least, a
triumphant ending Of the struggle
might come in not-too- distant fu-
ture. Heartened by the swelling tide
of success, running strongly for a
full month and bearing on its foam
ing crest notable victories both in
Africa and in Russia, the Prime MIN
lister felt entitled to glimpse a con-
structive re-ordering of the world by
the pooled craftsmanship OF the
United Nations, though this was cou-
pied with appeals for unremittlng
effort and warnings of trials still to
come.
The most vivid highlight in
Churchill's address was his renewed
admonition to the Italian people to
make peace promptly or suffer the
dreadful consequences. Two full
years ago, he told the Italians that
because they had submitted to Mus
solinis egomania, Britain was tear
ing, and will continue to tear, your
empire to shreds." How has that
grim forecast been realized! Today,
the last fragment of overseas Italy
is being desperately defended, not
bv Italians, but by Rommels Ger
man Afrika Korps, One hundred
Italian generals and 100000 soldiers
are in British prison camps alone,
not counting casualties in the Bal
kans and Russia which may swell
the total to 100000 with half the
Italian Navy destroyed and the re-
mainder in jeopardy. Worst OF all,
the Italian homeland is now exposed
to prolonged, scientific and shat-
tering air attack" which already mas
laid three of it's largest cities in
ruins. To Italian listeners, Church
ills relentless phrases must have
come over the air like a voice OF
impending doom. His last chance
offer may play an important part
in shattering Italy's already sore
stricken morale.
Of even broader significance was
Mr.. Churchill's intimation that tine
war in Europe will come to an END
before the war in Asia. The At
lantic may be calm while in the Pa
cific the hurricane rises to its tull
pitch" In that case, not only olo
Mr.. Churchill promise full British
aid for the final blows at Japan, but
he went on to make the stimulating
observation that, should this ultl-
mate test of Allied cooperation oc-
cur simultaneously with the diplo-
matte conferences over the European
postwar settlement, there will be
far higher sense Of comradeshlp
around the council table than eX-
listed among the victors at Versailles.
Then the danger had passed away,
the common bond between the Al
lies had snapped There was no sense
of corporate responsibility such as
exists when victorious nations who
are masters Of one vast scene are,
most of them, still Waging war side
by side in another"
Such were the hopeful and con-
structive ideas in the Prime Min
ister's address delivered on the eve
of his 6sth birthday. Yet the final
note was a SOLDERING return to real
ity. When he warned: THE dawn
of 1943 will soon loom red before us,
and we must brace ourselves to cope
with the trials and problems Of what
must be stern and terrible year"