Evening star., 1943-11-10
Two Speeches

WV SFSS~uSS
Within twenty four hours of each
other, the two archprotagonists of
the titanic struggle for Europe's
destiny spoke their minds in words
addressed to their respective peoples.
The words themselves and the cir
cumstances under which they were
delivered alike offer a contrast
worthy of shakespearian drama.
Adolf Hitler was the first actor on
the forensic stage. He made his
customary appearance in the big
Munich beer-hall cellar on the
twentieth anniversary Of the abor-
tive revolutionary attempt which
first brought him and his followers
to more than local notice. Speaking
to a hand-picked assemblage of
Nazi party dignitaries and stalwarts,
none too certain that they might
not be the target Of a British bomb
Ing raid. the Fuehrer Of the Third
Reich painted somber picture OF
Germany's condition and prospects
on the verge OF the fifth winter in a
war which he had himself precipi-
tated. While still voicing predic-
tions OF ultimate victory, he frankly
admitted that the alternative was
utter defeat and destruction which
could be averted only by further
sacrifices without stint and the
arousing Of boundless fanaticism in
hight to a finish regardless of con-
sequences.
Hitler admitted the terrific strain
which disasters on the Eastern front
and the ravages Of Allied air raids
had placed alike upon the German
armies in the field and the civilian
population at home. The domestic
crisis was not minimized, and the
war-weary were menaced with the
direst threats. The battle of the
home front" he cried, must be
fought in the erst place by party
members who should help those who
are weak, but we should be ruthless
against cowards Let there be
no mistake. We shall know how to
deal with those criminals What
happened in 1918 will not happen a
second time. When many thousands
must fall in battle, I will not hesi-
tate to put few hundred criminals
to death at home With character
istic callousness verging on cynicism,
he ended by saying IF the German
people despair, they will deserve no
better than they get. If they de-
spair, will not be sorry for them
II God lets them down."
1t is refreshing to turn from the
Hitlerian diatribe to the address
OF Winston Churchill, delivered hext
day in London at the Lord Mayors
banquet held amid the ancient
panoply of the Mansion House. Here
were no frenzied appeals to popular
fanaticism coupled with dire threats
IN an attempt to galvanize the last
reserves of energy and morale. In
stead, the Prime Minister sought to
combat overconfidence in a speedy
victory, warned that German defeat
could not normally be expected be-
fore next year, and solemnly as
serted that the final climactic cam
paigns might involve British and
American sacrifices on an unprece-
dented scale and battles far larger
and more costly than Waterloo or
Gettysburg" Emphasizing the Nazi
enemys toughness and desperation,
Mr.. Churchill pointed out that Hit
ler still has 400 divisions under his
command or control. He has party
police force which gives him a grip
on the agonized and regimented
people of Germany. Hitler and
his guilty confederates know their
lives are at stake and they at any
rate run no extra risk in making
other people fight to the bitter end.
German troops. wherever they have
been found, fight with veteran skill"
Antithetical though they unques-
tionably are in moral attitude and
outlook, the logical deduction from
both speeches is that of bitter clash
between two stubborn wills which
must be fought to a decisive finish
before one OF them is broken We
are certain. which will ultimately be