Evening star., 1942-07-04
Quotes Churchill
On Realism Of War.

To the Editor OF The Star.
Surely, the last person who fairly can
be accused of facile optimism is winston
Churchill. When he became their leader
he offered the English people blood
toll, tears and sweat He never has
minimized the difficulties OF the strug-
gle against the Nazis. His experience OF
war, it's hopes and disappointments was
expressed in letter he wrote to a frlend
in 1880: Never believe any war Will be
smooth or easy. = I" = The statesman VINO
conducts a war must realize that once
the signal is given he is no longer the
master OF policy but the slave OF unfore-
seeable and uncomfortable events, anti
ouated war Offices weak, incompetent or
arrogant commanders; untrustWorthy
allies, hostile neutrals, malignant Tor
tune. ugly surprises, awful miscalcula-
tions all take their seat at the council
board on the manner of declaration
of war. Always remember, however sure
you are that you can easily win, that
there would not be war II the other
man did not think that he also had
chance"
Even as recently as March, in speech
in the House of Commons, while confl-
dent of ultimate victory, he stressed the
perils of the next few months in these
words: Beyond this phase of tribulation
-. there arises the prospect OF ultimate
victory -" = The ordeal through which we
have to pass will be tormented and pro-
tracted but, if every one bends to the
task with unrelenting effort and uncon-
ouerable resolve, If we do not weary by
the wav or fall out among ourselves, or
fail our Allies, we have right to look
forward across a good many months OF
sorrow and suffering to a solid and rea-
sonable prospect of complete and final
victory"
This most optimistic recent utterance
perhaps has been the quoting OF his own
speech made in 1915 at a moment when
the horizon was particularly threatening
| for the Allies: 1--WE are passing through
bad time now, and it will probably be
| worse before it is better, but that 1t will
be better If we only endure and persevere
| I have no doubt whatever. The old wars
were decided by their episodes rather
than by their tendencies. In this war
the tendencies are far more important
than the episodes Without winning any
sensational victories we may win this
war We may win 1t even during the
continuance Of extremely disappointing
and vexatious events. 1t is not necessary
for us to win this war to push the Ger
man lines back over all the territory they
have absorbed, or pierce them. While
the German lines extend far beyond
their frontiers, while their flag flies over
conquered capitals and subjugated prov
inces. while all the appearances of mill
tary success attend their arms, Germany
may be defeated more fatally than
| if the Allied armies had entered Berlin"
Mr.. Churchill warned his people for
years before the war of the Nazi peril.
He was right. From the outset OF the
war he has realized the immensely of
the task, foreshadowing even in June,
1910, that the fight might be carried to
"the gates of India" He has been right.
After tribulation he confidently predicts
final triumph. Let us trust that he will
be right in that also.
ERIC UNDERWOOD.
Calls for Patience
And Praises Transit Men.
To the Editor OF The Star:
It is with keen interest that read
the open forum section of your editorial
page.
Ny personal belief is that If the people
| Of Wa&hinRton would be mora patient,