South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 25 September 1943

The Real Enemy

Mr. Churchill’s massive and inspiring review of the progress of the war admirably fitted the momentous situation in which the United Nations now find themselves. It was a tour de force even for such a giant of oratory, such a historic national leader. The almost flawless sequence of successes which it recorded left few loopholes for criticism and even fewer for contention. No Minister for Defence ever gave a better account of his stewardship, or had a better account to give.

Mr. Churchill disclosed that though the Mediterranean front was never intended as the Second Front, it had been opportunely exploited and developed until it became possible to schedule the complete knock-out of Italy within a comparatively short period of opening this offensive. His account of the circumstances surrounding Italy’s ultimate surrender showed that the Anglo-American partnership had not failed to exact the last practicable advantage from this coup, though with the Germans astride their neck the Badoglio Government had little margin to negotiate or implement the armistice.

Nevertheless, from what the Prime Minister said, there is much to hope from these developments. His temperate references to the part which Italy may yet play in the war opened out encouraging vistas through post-war problems, and bespoke a reasonableness which, mingled with scrupulous justice, should certainly permeate our peace-making. On this point Mr. Churchill drew a clear distinction between Germany and Italy which will find an echo in most democratic hearts. His uncompromising undertaking to break once and for all the insufferable spirit of Prussianism, and its most recent incarnation in the form of Nazi tyranny, was equally acceptable. Beyond question this should be regarded as the first war aim of all the democratic nations, if peace is to be anything but another twenty years’ travesty.

That this will not be done cheaply was foreshadowed in the Premier’s comment that “the bloodiest fortunes of this war for Britain and the United States lie ahead.” Our vast and rapidly growing air power may relieve us of some of the severity of this task. So much was hinted by Mr. Churchill, but it is a dividend we cannot bank on. The U-boats, marvellously kept at bay during the last four months, are bent on a fresh challenge; German ingenuity is still devilishly fertile, as revealed in the new glider-bomb; the Nazi hierarchy obviously intends to sell its life dearly.

Clearly Mr. Churchill shares the recently expressed view of President Roosevelt that no easy or speedy end to the war can be envisaged. The stiffest tasks still face us, but they will be tackled with all the more confidence for this week’s inspiring recital.