Zurich Herald, 1943-10-21, Page 6THE WAIL . WEEK
Commentary .on Current Events
Portugal Grants AnitSumarne
Bases In Azores To Great Britain
The announcement that Porta -
gal has. granted Great Britain
anti-submarine bases in the Azores
Is a development not only of im-
mense immediate advantage to the
Allies but one which carries po-
litical and strategic implications
of world-wide significance, says
The New York Times. The im-
mediate advantage lies in the fact
that this move deals What may
prove to be a 'knockout blow
against the German subnmarine,
the last weapon on which Hitler
still relies.
Protection For Convoys
For the new "anti-submarine
bases" in the Azores include both
harbor and airfield facilites which
will permit the stationing of Bri-
tish naval and air forces—and,
possibly through reverse lend-
lease, of American forces as well
—at an approximate midway point
on the sea lanes between , New-
foundland on the one side and
England and North Africa on the
other. This should permit the
routing of Atlantic convoys in
such manner that they will be at
all times under the protection not
only of Allied naval forces but
also of a continuous air patrol,
which has proved to be the most
deadly destroyer of the U-boat
packs. It should provide the
greatest possible security for the
.Allied communication lines and
in doing so further facilitate the
opening of another front in
Europe.
Germany's Reaction
The further effects of this Portu-
guese move will depend largely
on Germany's reaction to it. Portu-
gal acted in conformity with her
b70 -year-old alliance with Great
Britain, which pledged both na-
tions to be "friends to friends, en-
emies to enemies, and to uphold
each other mutually by land and by
sea against all men that may live
or die." At the same time, in agree-
ment with Great Britain, Portugal
will continue to maintain neu-
trality "on the European Contin-
ent." Berlin's first pronounce-
ments are dictated by caution, but
Hitler has never yet taken a re-
verse like this lying down, and
Portugal is preparing for all
eventualities.
Allied Diplomacy Triumphs
This raises interesting possibi-
lities. For, barring some hit and
run attacks by submarines, Ger-
many has no way of getting at
Portugal except through Spain.
And Spain and Portugal are oblig-
ated by what amounts to a mutual
assistance pact to aid each other
in case of attack by a third Power.
Spain was informed of the negoti-
ations preceding Portugal's action
and raised no objections. Spain
herself has switched from a pro -
Axis "non -belligerency" to a vigil-
ant neutrality," and if Germany
should attempt to attack Portugal
through her she would be obligated
to fight against Germany. There
arises, therefore, the possibility
of a new front in Europe in quite
a different place than anticipated
heretofore. Even aside from such
a development, the Portuguese
move would have been impossible
without Spain's new orientation,
and this new orientation and the
result it has produced mark a new
Allied diplomacy.
May End Neutrality
In one respect, of course, the
Portuguese move is another in-
dication of how far the balance
of power has swung in favor of
the Allies. But it would be foolish
to assume that Portugal and Spain
are merely hopping on the Allied
bandwagon, Certainly Portugal
and possibly Spain are exposing
themselves to a risk which must
be judged in proportion to their
resources. And Portugal for one
has declared that she is assuming
this risk because "our dignity and
our interests may require that we
end our neutrality,."
Example To Little Nations
In that respect Portugal is set-
ting an example for other "little"
nations, notably Turkey and Tire -
land. But the Portuguese move
has also set a legal precedent of
considerable bearing on the
British alliances with Russia and
Turkey. Turkey is neutral in the
entire war and Russia in the war
in Asia, but both have bases
much desired by the Allies in both
theatres of war. Whether and when
they will follow Portugal's example
must be left for them to decide.
Contrary to Hitler's practice,
Great Britain did not press Portu-
gal to yield the bases until the
time was ripe for it and the step
was clearly in Portugal's own
interest. It may be expected
that a like pplicy will be pursued
in other cases. But as far as the •
Allies are concerned any legal
doubts about the propriety of a .
Russian grant of Siberian bases far
view of her neutrality pant with
Japan, for instance, have now
been dissipated..
Attack On The •Tlrpite
It takes brave men to carry oast
what the British Admiralty etc*
to call "a very gallant enterpXlee."
None braver have cords out of this
war than the crews that piloted
their midget submarines 'down
Altera Fjord to torpedo that giant
Tirpitz. They had to thread
their way through a fifty -mile
gauntlet of floating ice and hid-
. den fire before they could even
loose their weapons. But because
their nerves were steady and their
sight sure the pride of the German
Navy now lies crippled in a slick
of her own oil.
These midget submarines are
not supposed to have an oper-
ational range of more than 300.
miles. As the British ships were
cruising more than a thousand
miles from home bases, presumb-
ably they were transported part
way to their destination in some
manner. With the Tirpitz as their
first victim they will certainly
raise the hazard of all ships anch-
ored in supposedly safe harbors.
Por the Germans the Tirpitz may
represent an irreplaceable loss.
She was the one ship which could
lead a fleet against our naval
power with any hope of success.
Refitting her in Alten Fjord should
OTTAWA REPORTS
That 150.000 Farm WorIFers
Are Needed for Essential Ia*
dtutrigs During Off.Sensun
In past year farm workers
hare worked during the fall and
winter months at the -cutting of
wood fuel, in coal mines, in base
metal mines and in fish -packing
industries. This year their help
is more urgently needed, not only
in these industries, but in other
essential industries.
The war has caused a shortage
of the manpower usually avail-
able for such work—the workers
have gone to fight or to work
full-time in war factories. other
important industries have also
suffered through a shortage of
manpower and they, toe, . are
looking to the man on the land
to come •to their aid.
Farm production still retains
its priority place, •' however. Farm-
ers are expected to remain with
their farms as long as they are
needed and these who must re-
main on the land for year-round
work are not being called upon
to leave it.
In an endeavor to use every
prove a difficult task. Until she
can fight again the German High
Seas Fleet will probably remain
in hiding.
available -working man where
moat needed and especially to
ensure that urgently needed fuel
wood- is' brought in, the Director
of. National Selective Service has
announced a campaign to secure
the services of those fanners who
can •be spared .during the next
few .months Agreements be-
tween the Dominion and the
Provinces for farm labor recruit -
anent provide that Provincial
Field organizations will assist
the Dominion in locating farmers
for other essential industries dur-
ing their tiff -season. A11 the Pro-
vincial organizations have agreed
to co-operate with Selective
Service in the present campaign.
In addition, several hundred local
Farm Prc,duction committees, or-
ganized by the Provinces, have
undertaken to give their assist -
since in securing the farm labor.
Altogethe'r more than 150,000
farmers are being sought for
essential industries throughout
Canada,
It has been pointed out by the
Department of Labor that work-
ers in agriculture who have
secured postponement of military
training through their occupa-
tion, will be allowed to continue
with their postponement if they
accept approved essential em-
ployment during the slack sea-
son,
So far this shifting of labor
towhere itis urgently needed has
yielded valuable results. In one
instance this year, the moving of
4,000 Ontario farmers to the
prairies for four or five weeks
meant that the full harvest labor
requirements • of the Prairie Prov-
inces were met and the Western
crofts were saved.
Minister . of Labor Mitchell in
announcing that any of these'
men who now wished to return
to Ontario from Manitoba or
Saskatchewan could do so, said,
"The response of the Ontario
farmers was excellent. Our in-
formation is that all of the West-
ern crop will be saved, with none
being lost by reason of any labor
shortage."
With the harvest now safely
garnered, the next urgent need is
preparation for the winter
months, and Canada is depending
on her farmers to help bring in
the fuel.
KILLING THE BUDWORM
The budworm is a little creature
and can easily be killed if the
proper means is found. Unchecked
it can destroy forests. Mankind,
which has already in many in-
stances set one of nature's crea-
tures to the job of destroying an-
other, has yet to find and put the
enemy of the budworm to work.
—Port 'Arthur News -Chronicle.
Germans Must Net
Be Underestimated
Gen, ,Sir Bernard L. Montgomr
ery, commander of the British
Eighth Army, in an interview
warned that the Germans, must
not be underestimated and said
that it was a great mistake for
anyone to do so.
Montgomery, whose Eighth
Ariny marched approximately 100)
miles in the first seven _ days of
the invasion of Italy, eautienerl
against attaching decisive import-
ance to the Italian armistice in
considering the factors in the
present Allied campaign on this;
peninsula.
"The Italians ceased to be a
fighting factor by the end of July
whenwe were still engaged in
Sicily,", he said.
He said. the Germans were con-
ducting a skilful withdrawal from,
the southern extremity, of Italy,
making continual use of demoli-
tions and mines, and that . the
Eighth Army had been hiking on
foot in pursuit.
"The Germans facing the.
Eighth Army are experienced,
well-trained troops and have been
conducting a fighting retreat, The
Germans can't be underestimated.
It's a great mistake to do so," he
declared.
Saar rt or
KI '.''
"It's quiet in here. Guess I'll sit and think awhile. Lord
how he loved those skates. And what a wonderhe was
on 'em!
• Awa::Y'.::«.3z%:.``wC3.'`fi'.••3:::fv a.4 _
REGRET TO INFORM YOU HEAD- , nu
QUARTERS OVERSEAS ADVISES...
"Guess being good ood with a hockey stick must have come
in handy to him, learning how to handle a bayonet
properly. He was quick as a flash. What a shot the kid had!
., YOUR SON SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
" WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY.,. �,,„
"It's a pity wars can't be fought by us older ones,, with
most of our living behind us. But it seems only kids cam
take it ... kids with fire in their veins and, springs for
muscles and steel for bones .... like Johnny.
.' ....•ryi;NSiMMMIvTS2`'•`..:..4v`.•'ti.:•Y<}''fiMV•.•,A,,µy,:
BE ASSURED HE IS RECEIVING
w
"�'" BEST MEDICAL ATTENTION...
"Oh, Johnny, come home again! Come home running,
shouting, tramping in and out of the house with muddy
feet and clothes awry. Come home, Johnny, shouting,
laughing, heedless, turning the house topsy turvy in
your endless quests for lost sweaters and misplaced
mittens. But come home to us, Johnny, come home ..
,mem<`i::. •' Snt,•'`,3:L''.i':yiiii:•:•:•:•'..`';S.vtL`n'::;::i:"+:•'t:3w.uuf?.m" v.'iy°'•
ROPE TO RELIEVE YOUR ANXIETY a
>s`} SOON AS POSSIBLE... LETTER FOLLOWS.
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"If prayers will do it, you'll be back, Johnny. But we're
not stopping with prayers alone, boy. We're working for
it, buying with every last cent we can scrape together
the -Victory Bonds that put weapons in your hands and
sound ships under you and good food in you and dress.
ings and drugs to care for your wounds.
"This is our pledge to you, lad: that when you sit
again at our table and look into our eyes you'll know
we did not fail you, that we gave everything we had,
just as we gave you."
THE HOUSE OF SE.AGRAM