Show Behind the War ar News I r By Field Marshal Lord Ironside LONDON INS We start the new year of 1942 with many fresh hopes for we know that we have have- unity of ot purpose and strength and that we will win Although the campaigns in inthe inthe inthe the east and west are so widely separated they are one and the same war and they are similar in nature in many ways Japan can no more disengage her forces from China than Germany Germany Ger Ger- Germany many can withdraw hers from Russia although there are al already already already al- al ready signs that Japan wishes to launch a peace offensive in Chinas China's direction Germany already is reeling under the blows she has received in Russia and Libya and can find little consolation there With the passage of time Japan will find the same thing in the east We must make 1942 a year of supply The great armies of Rusala Russia Russia Rus Rus- sia ala and China must be maintained maintained maintained main main- and strengthened despite new calls for armies from the United States and the British empire It is the growing offensive power of Russia and China which will give us time to develop develop develop de de- de- de our strength Russia is pressing the Germans hard along the eastern front and her sudden sudden sud sud- sudden den advance into the Crimea at Kerch and Feodosia has shown her strength Germanys Germany's allies the the Rumanians Italians and Hungarians Hungarians have have shown that they have little stomach for the fight Like Napoleons Napoleon's motley army in 1812 they are beginning to crumble under the effects of winter winter winter win win- ter and the Russian offensive Japan like Germany in Libya on a smaller scale is waging an overseas campaign Her communications communications communications com com- and shipping difficulties difficulties difficulties are becoming more complicated complicated complicated com com- every day It is these that we must attack relentless relentless- ly Iy until we are ready to ass assume 1 the offensive M The world looks with p pride de deu u up upon p o 0 n the defense def E which United States and troops are putting up against overwhelming odds in the Phil Largely owing to t tiff thu E great help we have been giver by the United States in the b bittie bit bat t. t tle tie of the Atlantic she has found foun that a concentration of her hei h I strength is more difficult and anc c lengthy than would have be been n the case But it wil wilbe be more or less sure just same Ith Singapore holds fast The fighting in northern Malaya Ma laya has been heavy and bitter bitte I but the position is in m hand Ae Th might of India men and materials mate rials are behind the prec preciou ti Burma road and the great D base Be Beof of Singapore I IThe The threat to Indias India's security has already buried many political cal troubles and we see a new neu Vi unity there which has already emerged from all creeds tt It is upon Singapore that our GUI OU future offensive in the east S must be based Unlike the sit situation in the west west here we art we-art are rE opposed to a strong vigorous u naval power which has gaime the initiative We have learne that preparations against s1 l lan an enemy must be efficient Time is necessary before WI w we can concentrate our air for force in Malaya and the Dutch E S' S Indies and bring in m submarine and light naval vessels We h hav hava VE VEa a long coastline to defend anc and much work to do in convoying f traffic in the Pacific f No fleet action can be fought until our bases are ready a and until our fleet is strong enough to fight a successful battle We shall require much pa tience and much good organization organization tion ion before we are ready f 1 |