Evening star., 1942-02-14
Nazi Fleets Escape
May Bring Changes
In Churchill Cabinet
Strong Demond Is Made
For Inquiry Similar to
eorI Hdrbor Probe
~ the Associated Press.

ReorI Horbor Probe
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb, 14.-Reorgani-
cation of Prime Minister Church
ills war cabinet to increase
lighting cooperation among the
army, navy and air force and
avoid further British failures
such as the escape OF the three
German warships was forecast
in informed parliamentary cir
cles today.
At the same time there WAS /
strong demand for an omcial in
quiry, similar to the American in
vestigation after the Pearl Harbor
incident, into the respnsibility for
allowing the Scharnhorst, Gneisenau
and Prinz Eugen to slip past Brit
ish defenses and gain safety at Hell
goland, these sources said.
1T would be the best thing pos
sible to show people mistakes do not
go unpunished," more than one
member OF Parliament was quoted
as saying
Sir Stafford Cripps Suggested.
Among those suggested for posts
in a revamped cabinet was Sir. Stat
ford Cripps, former Ambassador to
Moscow. who was mentioned IS pos
sible minister for defense to super
wise all three branches Of the armed
services in place Of Mr.. Churchill,
who now holds such authority.
Parliamentary sources pointed out,
in this connection, that . German
military commentator gave credit
for the successful channel escape to
lack Of cooperation among the
three services.
These forecasts and suggestions
came in the midst Of 4 press furore
over the channel battle.
Severe editorial criticism of Mr..
Churchill and his government be-
cause of the audacious sweep OF the
German fleet through British home
waters nared rs the Bremen radio
boasted that the NaI warships had
arrived safely at q German port.
May Upset Radio Plans.
Amid the storm of criticism the
nation awaited with unusual interest
q broadcast survey Of the war situa-
ton which Mr. Churchill scheduled
for 9 pm. a pm. Eastern war tlme)
tomorrow before Thursdays Channel
battle suddenly changed the whole
picture. There was wide specula-
ttion on the effect this new develop
ment might have on Mr.. Churchills
plan to broadcast.
Until the protest over British fail
ure to halt the passage Of the Ger
man warships. it had been presumed
the Prime Minister would speak to
the nation then. But today 1t was
impossible to confirm whether the
B. B. C. had reserved the time for
him,
Likely to Force Statement.
Informed sources. however, said
the outspoken criticism in news
paper editorials would likely force
. government statement at the next
meeting Of the House Of Commons
and that Mr.. Churchill would make
1t.
The general opinion in parlia-
circles Is that an inquiry
must be opened at once" these
sources said.
The barrage directed against the
government was partly tempered by
the suggestion of some newspapers
that all the facts be gathered before
responsibility was placed, and Lord
Beaverbrook's Daily Express de-
Tended the Prime Minister by ad-
vising Britons to help him carry his
heavy load up the hill"
Wants Methods Recast
The News Chronicle, Liberal, said:
His (Churchill's) methods of gov
ernment must be recast quickly and
with a single aim In view-to retrieve
as dangerous and humiliating q sit
uation as any that yet confronted
us.
Have we not been hypnotized by
Mr. Churchill's personality . ?"
The Daily Herald. Labor, said:
1--WE look pretty foolish" while the
Mirror asked: "Is it any longer true
to say we trust the Prime Minister
though we do not trust his govern
ment?"
The Daily Sketch said:
Mr.. Churchill must be brought
by one means or another to clearer
recognition of some essential truths.
Does he take too much upon him.
self? Should he not limit the
numbers of his war cabinet and i'm
prove its quality?"
Australian Newsmen Bitter.
Australian newsmen cabled home
some Of their most bitter reviews.
z. w. MacAlpine sent to his syn
dicate two-column attack on all
British ofncialdom, saying the man
In the street now is heartily sick Of
the answers and reasons that have
been given for our failure so far
Trevor Smith OF the Australian
Newspaper Services predicted 4
''first-class political upheaval." with
Churchill directly challenged by
some OF his own supporters
Mr. Smith suggested that one of
the most urgent changes needed was
the inclusion in the war cabinet of
Sir Stafford Cripps, n sincere and
ruthless man who, If he ever
becomes Prime Minister, will not
hesitate to remove ministers and
who make mistakes"
The Bremen radio, meanwhile,
said the German warships had
reached their base despite British
vigilance" --..
The British already had assumed
the Nazis were home after their
100-mile dash through the English
but they took some COM
fort in the broadcast report OF q
British motor torpedo boat COM
that two torpedo hits "ap-
peared to us to have been scored |
on the cruiser Prinz Eugen." 4
The commander declared the small |,
motor torpedo boats fought through |
4 line of II German "E-boats" talso
torpedo boats with AL our guns !
firing while all around us the water
spat up as E-boat and aircraft can
R-yY