Evening star., 1942-04-26
London Paper Decrie.
Lord Beayerbrook's
Second Front Plea
His Suggestion 'HordIy
In Category of Service
Sunday Times DecIores
NJ ths Ass<saees Press.

SrA N6S4Nf anu tEl1luftittdt cGtl1dy
Times tonight took Lord Beaver
brook TO task for his adjura-
ton 10 strike reeklessly" against
Germany, thereby giving voice
10 a sizable body OF British
opinion which was said TO feel
that an invasion OF Europe
should not be attempted until
the United Nations are prepared
down 70 the last needed rife
bullet.
In column long editorial headed
"An Unfortunate Speech" the news
paper belittled the New York speech
OF Lord Beaverbrook. In which the
British supply emissary urged a
second front In western Europe
The paper said the suggestion was
hardly in the category of q serv-
ice"
Observers said there was reason
10 believe the important Sunday
papers lire OF reasoning was SYM
pathetic TO that held by the War
once. which has maintained
throughout. according to unofficial
reports. that present preparations
and available shipping were not
sufficient TO launch q continental
invasion on the scale necessary to
insure success.
Both in spiritual and material
spheres, the nation has been in
creasingly keyed up for attack"
the Sunday Times said. we have
already passed from the defensive
phase into that of defensive
offensive as efficiently exemplihed
in the recent Commando raids
We ali eagerly look forward to
passing into the unqualified Of
fensive so often foreshadowed by
authoritative speakers throughout
the British commonwealth"
One Definite Condition.
Then the editorial added signifi-
cantly:
This expectation, however. is
qualified by one definite condition.
No one will expect such an offensive
before the prerequisites OF success
have been secured
An early offensive. the newspaper
acknowledged. is imperative, but. 1t
added, we will not to be hustled by
inopportune pressure from any
quarter. ="
II went on:
Responsible people in this coun-
try and in the United States are
well aware that we shall both re-
sumo the offensive in the earliest
and best conditions possible"
CThe Sunday Times, weekly
newspaper, has no connection
with the Daily London Times. 4
IL does. however, represent i'm
portant conservative sentiment
and frequently has the inside
track on government poiicy.j
Lord Beaverbrook is fresh from
once TN the war cabinet) and MANY
people in America and here also
may think he is stiH the mouth
piece of the government" the sun
day Times said.
Invasion Threat Cited.
We, here, must be prepared to
repel invasion as well as to invade.
That necessity is apt to escape at
tention at distance"
The newspaper also complained
that Lord Beaverbrook gave cur
rency" to rumors that Prime Minis
yer Churchill might fall without
countering with a fiat denial"
Without that, 1t said. his Amer
lean hearers must take 1t very
seriously indeed"
Lord Beaverbrook's speech. COM
bned with the report here that
President Roosevelt had informed
Mr.. Churchill he agreed with all
the conclusions reached by Gen.
George c. Marshall, United States
Army chief of staff, during his re-
cent visit 10 Britain, has sharpened
the issue of an Allied invasion of
Europe in 1912.
While in Northern Ireland, visit
Ing United States troops, Gen. Mar
shall stressed that ''the time for
action is near" although he refused
to speculate on Allied plans for the
summer.
Concern Over Army.
London dispatches said Lord
Beaverbrook' New York speech
pointed up concern in many British
quarters over what the British gov
ernment intends to do with the
largest army ever assembled in the
British Isles.
One section of the British public,
said London dispatches Friday. be-
lieves the employment OF this army
OF 1000 900 to 1000 900 is an urgent
summer necessity.
In his New York speech before
the American Newspaper Publishers
Association Thursday night Lord
Besverbrook said creation of a sec
ond front 10 aid Russia was "a
chance, an opportunity to bring
the war TO an end here and now"
He urged: Strike out TO help Rus
sis! Strike out violently! Strike
even reckleSSly!"
Lord Beaverbrook also said he
had heard wherever ! go" OF
story that Churchill would fall be
fore the summer is out" and he
added: You must help me kill that
bad rumor. Such a disaster we can