"The strain on German bomber pilots is Very considerable; and the Bulk -of then do tiot'seent capable of anything beyond bind bombing. On ithe Whole, we may! teach' provisionally the°contlusion that the German average effort against this country absorbs avery considerable part of their' potential strength. "^I should not like to say' that we have the ineasure of their power, bit we feel more confident about it than we have ever beer: before" (cheéfz), Which was now receiving very great reinforcements apart altogether from the American destroyers now coming rapidly into service, to assert its sure and well tried power.
In the air, both in fighters and in bombers, Britain was at this moment, after all these months of battle, substantially stronger actually and relatively than she was in May. The pilot situation was rapidly improving. No one, Mr. Churchill went on, ever dreamed that Britain could overtake Germany's immense lead in the first year or so of the war.
"We have à long lapse to make up. We must give ourselves a chance. Perhaps-it will be possible to make a more satisfactory statement on this subject this: time next year."
Referring to the reinforcement of British armies in the Middle East and elsewhere, the Prime Minister said that he would make no prophecies about what would happen when British, Australian, New Zealand, Indian and Egyptian troops came to close grips with the invaders, who were now making their way across the desert towards them. "AN T will say," he declared, "is that we are doing our best, and there as here we feel a good deal better than we did some time*ago.""
Referring to the Dakar episode, Mr. Chürchill said this operation. was primarily French, and though they were fékdy V give it n measure of support'whicf might, in certain' circunistances; Have been ecisivé, they were'no^moré anxious thi "General de Gaulle' to- get involved 4n along end sanguinary conflict" with the Vichy French.
After paying tribute.to the judgment of General de Gaulle, Mr. Churchill said the Government hed no intention whatever of abandoning General de Gaulles cause until it was merged, as merged it would be, in the larger cause of France.
Dealing with the Burma Road, Mr. Churchill declared "Three months ago, we were asked to close this road, and we seceded because we wished io give an opportunity to the Govermmients of Japan and China to reach a just and equitable settlement of their long and deadly quarrel. Unhappily this had not been reached. On the contrary, the "protracted struggle of Jüpan to subjugate -the Chinese race was still proceeding with all its attendant miseries.
We much regretted that the opportunity had been lost, but, in the circumstances, His Majesty's Gove: ment "proposed to allow' the agreement about the closing of the Burma Road to run its course to October 17, but they did not see their way to renew it after that date.
Mr. Churchill declared that the three-power pact which Japan had just entered appeared so unfavourable to Japan that he wondered whether there were not some secret clauses. It was not easy to see in what way Germany and Italy could come to the aid of Japan.
"The three-power pact, the Prime Minister cotitinued, was aimed directly at the United States and also, in a secondary degree, it was pointed against Russia, Neither Britain nor the United States, were accustomed react to treats of violence by submission, and certainly the reception of these strangely ill-balanced declarations in the United States had not been at all encouraging to those who were its authors.
Int. Churchill concluded with a reference to Spain. There was, he said, no country in Burope which had more need of peace, of food and prosperous trade than Spain.
Britain, he' added, looked forward seeing Spain take her rightful place both as a great Mediterranean power anda leading and famous member of the family of Europe and Christendom.—Reuter, Nervousness and Sleeplessness in consequence of heat as well as 'Nervousness' and Sleeplessnes? are removed by the-Tonicum
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.