Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 11th 1942
War Commentary
Whatever we do with India after the war we have to hold it now, with or without the co-operation of the inhabitants. The military caste is with us; we can count on the Indian Army and on the Indian States. Congress has faltered perilously.
“They will not kill me,” said Charles II to his brother James, “to make you king.” It is difficult to believe that the Congress leaders realise the frightful menace with which India is confronted, or its terrible urgency, else they would postpone all discussion on the constitutional future of India and throw all their energy into putting the country in a state of defence. India must be saved from the jaws of the Japs with the help of these politicians or in spite of them.
It is heartening to turn from India to the indomitable heroism of the defenders of Malta and Bataan. On those tiny islands of resistance the full fury of the enemy beats, as yet in vain. Martyred Malta has had two thousand alerts, and the two thousandth heralded the heaviest raid yet endured by the devoted islanders, whose constancy and courage exceed if possible that of the Londoners and Liverpudlians. The raids are very costly to the Axis, but the frantic intensity with which they are pressed measure the strategic importance of the islands. They are the wrist of our grip on the Mediterranean, as Cairo is the Mediterranean, as Cairo is the hand and Gibraltar the elbow. While we hold Malta we hold Egypt and Rommel rallies in vain.
In Bataan General Wainwright carries on the McArthur tradition and the gallant Filipinos continue to resist to the death. 0! that a portion of this spirit had been poured out on lost Malaya and Singapore!
In France it seems that new Vichy treacheries are meditated, but the British raids are stirring the bones of French patriotism and Hitler’s dilemma remains.
The great and perhaps decisive issue is hard upon us —the power of the Russians to smash the German spring offensive, and in particular to hold the Caucasus. The Germans have hung on through a punishing winter and have been given no respite anywhere, but they have kept the field and their “springboards.” What their sufferings, losses, and disillusionment may have done to their offensive spirit is another matter.
All through the winter, Allied supplies have been pouring into Russia, and the morale of the Red Army has been mounting. It would be strange if the German armies of 1942, however reorganised, reconstructed, and re-armed, could accomplish what was denied the armies of 1941, flushed with uninterrupted success and carried forward irresistibly by Initial treachery and overwhelming power at pre-selected points. The successful resistance of the Russians has turned Hitler’s masterstroke into a desperate and forlorn gamble. No longer is it for the Germans to teach the doubtful battle where to rage; they have long lost the initiative and cannot hope to regain it to the extent or in the sense that they held it before the tide turned at Rostov.
Hitler has been compelled to stake everything on the overthrow of armies, stronger, more numerous, more resourceful, and better armed than ever he imagined. The stake is high for Russia, too and for the Allies. Even partial success leading to a break-through into the Caucasus would gravely affect the military situation in the Middle and Near East, especially if Japanese penetration reached across the Indian Ocean.
There seems little doubt that this vast manoeuvre will be attempted, and that Japan. having succeeded in immobilising important Australian and American land forces and their naval support, has elected India to the position of major and immediate objective, though surprise assaults on Australia and Russia are not ruled out. The Japanese forces, though formidable, bold, and skillful, are by now spread dangerously thin and the main naval strength of the Allies has not yet been encountered or located. Japan is living on sea-power which may be snatched from her in one battle, and in that disaster would melt all her present gains and future dreams, leaving not a wrack behind.
Our enemies have their worries; they are beset with perils as mighty as their ambitions.