Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-03-27

OAuA
various places and fierce fighting Is
going on at many points. 1t is too
soon to proclaim the results in this
vast area of mountain and jungle
but in nearly every combat we are
able to count three or four times
more Japanese dead-and that is
what matters-than we have our
selves suffered in killed, wounded
and missing.
Individual fighting superiority in
the jungle has definitely passed to
the British and Indian soldiers as
compared with the Japanese. Fur
ther to the north an American COL
umn of experienced jungle fighters
and a considerable Chinese Army
under Gen. Stilwell of the United
States service are progressing with
equal mastery.
Later on I shall make to you or
parliament a further report on all
this hard fighting which, mind you
is not by any means decided yet.
Meanwhile, we have placed a
powerful battle fleet under Admiral
Somerville in Indian waters in Or
der to face the main part of the
Japanese fleet should 1t turn west
wards after having declined battle
against the Americans
Estimate Reduced.
When I spoke year ago drew
attention to the possibility that
there would be a prolonged interval
between the collapse of Hitler and
the downfall of Japan. I still think
there will be an interval, but I dc
not consider it will be as long an
interval as I thought year ago
But be it long or be it short, we
shall go though with our American
brothers with our utmost strength
to the very end.
I have now tried to carry you, as
If in Mosquito aircraft, on recon-
noitering duty over the worldwide
expanse of this fell and ferocious
war. And I trust you have gained
not only some glimpse of the par
ticular scenes, but also have the
feeling of the relative size and
urgency OF the various things that
are going on. There are, as you
see, quite a. lot of things going on.
Still, I remember when I spoke to
you on March 81 of last year I gave
up the main part of what I said to
what we were planning to do to
make our island better place for
all its people after the war was over
whenever that should be. I told
you there would have to be a gen.
eral election and a new House of
Commons, and, if I was still thought
ut to be of any further use, should
put to the country a four-year plan
to cover the transition period be-
tween war and peace and bring the
soldiers, sailors and airmen back to
a land where there would be food
work and homes for all.
Reforms Outlined.
I dwelt on how wrong it would
be to make promises which coult.
not be fulfilled and for one set of
politicians to try and outbid another
in visionary scheming and dream
ing, and mentioned five or six
large fields in which practical &C
ton would have to be taken.
Let me remind you of them-a
reform on great scale of the edu-
cation of the people, a nation wide
uplifting of their physical health.
l spoke of the encouragement of
agriculture and food production and
the vigorous revival of healthy viii
lage life: dwelt upon the impor-
lance of national compulsory insur-
ance scheme for all classes, for all
purposes from the cradle to the
grave, and of the sound scheme of
rehabilitation which would not de-
lay the rebuilding of industry and
not seem unfair to the fighting men.
1 also spoke about the maintenance
OF full employment and about the
rebuilding of our cities and the
housing of the people, and 1 made
a few tentative suggestions about
the economic and financial policy
and what one might call the i'm
portance of making both ends meet
All this was to be done after the
war was over. No promises were
to be made beforehand but every
preparation that was possible with
out impeding the war effort. includ
ing legislative preparation, was to be
set on foot.
Now, my friends-as your unfailing
kindness encourages me to call YOU
l am man who has no unsatisfied
ambitions except to beat the enemy
and to help you in any way think
right, and, therefore, hope you will
not suppose that in what 1 am going
to say I am looking for votes or try
ing to glorify this party or that. But
l do feel that I might draw your
attention to the fact that several of