Evening star., 1943-02-12
Churchill Reports

ICpOl eS W tIlS Rouse OF commons are
always noteworthy performances.
The one made yesterday was COM
prehensive survey of the entire war
picture, including a thumbnail sketch
Of the Casablanca conference Just a
day ahead of President Roosevelt's S
scheduled version.
Mr.. Churchill emphasized the scope
and eXplicitness of the Allied pro-
gram laid out at Casablanca. For
good or i'll, he said, we know exactly
what it is we wish to do. We have the
united, agreed advice Of our experts
behind it, and there is nothing now
to be done but to work out these
schemes in detail and put them into
operation"
The extent of the Allied interven-
tion in French North Africa was re-
vealed by Mr.. Churchills statement
that nearly 100000 men had been
landed there, with negligible losses
from submarine attacks on conveys,
which augured we'll for their con-
tinued supply and reinforcement.
Unity of command had been attained
by the appointment of General
Eisenhower as generalissimo for all
Allied forces in the North African
theater. The Allied plans, however,
far transcend that field of operations.
While revealing no specific obiectives
outside North Africa, Churchill stated
that an offensive campaign had been
planned for the next nine months,
described as complete" designed Ito
engage the enemyS forces on land,
sea and in the air on the largest pos
sible scale and at the earliest pos
sible moment" and to make the
enemy burn and bleed in every way
possible"
Mr.. Churchill was cautiously reti-
cent on his meeting with Turkish
President Inonu at Adana subsequent
to the CaSablanca conference. He
stated that "to get Turkey into
trouble" would be disastrous to
United Nations interests, and that Il
made no request to Turkey except to
get her armament we'll organized"
which is being furthered by various
methods. Naturally Mr.. Churchill
would have given no hint Of any
understanding arrived at with the
Turkish leaders.
Perhaps the most cheering part Of
an address generally optimistic in
tone was Mr.. Churchills discussion
of the submarine situation. Although
emphasizing the gravity Of the prob
lem and its handicapping effect upon
offensive plans. the Prime Minister
reported that progress is being
made. We are holding our own and
more than holding our own" He
outtreSsed that assertion with ratios
Of ship construction, U-boat sinkings
and anti-submarine activities.
To Americans, Mr. Churchill's re-
affirmation of Britains determina-
ton to continue the war against
Japan to the point of unconditional
surrender should the war in Europe
finish before" will be especially well
come. He revealed the interesting
detail that, at Casablanca, he had
offered the President to embody this
aim in a special treaty, but Mr..
Roosevelt stated that the word Of
Britain was quite enough for him"
Reassuring likewise is the disclosure
that. British Field Marshal Sir John
Dill and American Lieutenant Cen
eral Henry H. Arnold have conferred
at Chungking with Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek. who expressed
satisfaction at the plans for giving
China additional help and "concurs
in plans for future action in the Far
East" Mr.. Churchill admitted, how
ever, that, for the time being, our
Asiatic war effort is confined to oper-
ations particularly in Burma"
Such are the high lights of survey
! by the Prime Minister delivered in a
! confident and at time jocular mood.
The House of Commons received it in
the same spirit, punctuating its cor
dial attention with cheers and occa-
sional laughter. Since Mr.. Churchill
is no pollyanna optimist, all this
augurs we'll for the crucial months
| that lie in store,
|