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Lv JP \ Ships Still Crossing Channel to France A Naval Correspondent Tells of Hazardous Night Trip "This way for steamers to the / Continent," 'announces a tattered peacetime poster at a British: port. It is not so out of date as you might think. Only the other even- ing | boarded a ship there which gp: 00k me to the Continent. But in. X "stead of a happy vacation steam- er, the ship was a speedy motor launch--a ufiit of Coastal Forces, flying the White Ensign of the Royal Navy. She was engaged on a hazardous operation which took us to within two miles of a Ger- man-occupied town. . It was a town which I had las seen on vacation. Then it was ablaze with lights from a' thousand doorways--from cafes, cinemas, [flashing advertisement sigus and the uncurtained windows of homes. Now there would be nothing to see except the falut outlines of build- ing tops against the slightly light- er background of the sky, and an otcasional wandering light from the masked headlamp of an auto 'truck driven by the enemy. Details of the operation were known only to the ship's captain when from her British base. "Tell the guns' crews to keep their eyes peeled," the captain said. "It may be lively tonight" No Navigation Lights In the wheelhouse the navigator unfolded his <charts and started work, stopping occasionally to give the order for a change of course into the voice pipe by his side. On this one man, probably more than on any other in the ship, depended. the success or fallure of the operation. And he was 24 years old, a bank clerk in New Zealand } less than three years ago. Wfthout the help of the naviga- tional lights of peacetime he had to plot the ship's course to a pre- determined point two miles off the enemy's coastline, across. many miles of sea, through mine-strewn waters. Working with stop watch and tables in his blacked-out chart room, the young navigator kept the ship on a sure course for her destination. + A little way out an old wreck on the port quarter gave the guns' : crew the chance of a little practice and brought the captain scramb- ling up on deck. From- that mo- ment till the finish of the opera- tion, many hours later, he never left the bridge except for a quick visit -to the chartroom to confer with the navigator, In Danger Zone Twilight had given way to full night when brilliant flashes astern flluminated the horizon. "An alr attack on one of our convoys or. on a coast town," said the captain. The three look-out men on the bridge were on the alert; for the ship was now in the danger zone, the home waters of E-boats. The guns' crews were ready for in. stant action. Ahead, the ship's bow cut a phosphorescent wedge in the dark water. Firetipped waves caught up in the luminous wake, sent green shadows racing over the ship's upper works. "We're too good a target for alr- craft," said the captain, "Halt speed ahead!" . That "reduced the phosphores. cent glare as we neared the enemy coastline. Ashore a twinkling light stab bed the darkness every few seo- onds, a signal by the Germans for their coast-wise convoys. That meant our presence was still un- detected or the light would surely have been extinguished, Close To: Shore We sailed farther and farther in till we could see the outlines of the buildings ashore and the auto- mobile lights. Now the engines were just ticking over, but they * "were ready to leap full ahead In an emergency. ; As the ship turned for 'home, the twinkling light ashore died and did not come on again. A star shell burst -from the shore bat- the motor launch cast oft teries. Something had alarmed the - shore watchers, Fortunately . the star shells were all between the ship and the shore, That meant we would not be silhouetted for thelr guns, More and more star shells screamed high into the Searchlights sent long white fing- ers skimming in vain over the sur- face of the waves as we switched to "halfspeed - ahead" and .zagged away, ~~ Now we were clear and opened up our engines. And so home with the first gray streaks of dawn. Be Good Natured At Dinner Table - ------y Don't grumble or quarrel at mealtimes, "advises the British Medical Association- in its book- let, "The doctors tell -you what to eat in wartime." 4 "AL. ontented mind - pro. duces a rebellious stomach and 80 spoils diges'ton," says the | booklet. "A meal is a social occasion and an opportunity for appease ment of mind and body: if the two work together in harmony the efforts of the housewife will not be wasted." \ -- TAT YR a TA i; i ---- a Cr sky. " York Herald Tribune. THE WAR . WEEK -- Commentary on Current Events Nazis Outwitted, Outgeneraled And Outfought By Russians One year ago the headlines read: "Manila, Cavite Lost; MacArthur - Fights On" and "Malaya Battles More Invaders." It was the open- ing of a grim year, says the New Disasters piled upon one another at Singa. pore and Java, in Burma, Libya and Russia. By summer Hitler's armies were sweeping into Egypt and the Cducasus, and people talk- ed gloomily of a ten-year war. This: year of 1943 opened wlth the gloom on enemy faces. Experts had said Hitler would havesto win in 1942 or he never would, He didn't. And the United Nations were on the march, Hitler and Goebbels, although naturally sticking to their predic- tions of victory, were less bouy- ant than usual. Der Fuehrer sald Germany would win no matter how "severe the struggle is and will be and no matter how often the scales seemingly tip In favor of our war enemies." Sald Goebbels: "Germany has more or less suc- tary difficulties which bave arlsen, «+ + Even countipg the changing luck in such a gigantic battle as 'that in Russia, we can look with confidence into the future," The Japanese nation, which had been fed on news of big victories, suddenly recelved from Premier Tojo a warning that the war would be long aud hard,. and that the United Nations were preparing to deliver = counter-blows of "great importance." «Allied Outlook More Cheerful On the other hand, the British War Office, {ssuing its third an- nual review of the war, pernbitted rays of cheer to shine through the official stodginess. The first signs that the Axis flood "might be turning to ebb" came on Aug. 31, the review said, when Rommel was rebuffed at the gate of Egypt, But it was not until the night ot Oct. 23, when Montgomery struck, that "the United Nations may be sald to have begun demonstrably strength rose one-third in 1942 and was now superior to the combined alr might of Germany and Italy. In 'America Donald Nelson re- ported that war factories made in November the largest production galn of any month since the Un- ited States began to rearm in 1940. About four and one-third times as much war material was turned out as In November a year ago. Red Army's Triumphs The. Russfan yearend made the finest reading of all From it emerged the picture of Sovlet strategy, and the conglu- slon to which it pointed was that the German Army had been out- witted, outgeneraled and out- fought. Der Fuehrer's grand cam- paign for 1942, sald Moscow quiet ly, had been formed "without tak- ing into account the Germans' ac- tual resources and. the Soviet re- serves." ividently the Red army had us- ed the barest minimum of troops to hold at Stalingrad during the fall, biding its time and building its reserves against the moment to strike. The moment came on Nov. 19, Soviet troops were order- ed to surround the malu body of German troops before Stalingrad. "The alm was accomplished" sald the review. Thus for the first time review T forces besieging Stalingrad bad been closed. Within the trap were twenty-two enemy divisions. "In these engagements our troops wiped out 95000 Germans and took 12,400 prisoners." Having achieved the encircle- ment before Stalingrad, the su- preme. command ordered the Red Army to launch the second phase of the offensive in the last two weeks of December." The objective here was to break through the enemy defenses in the region of Boguchar "and to come out into the rear of the German Fasclst army operating in the greater bend of the Don, so as to prevent the enemy troops surrounded bes fore Stalingrad from getting away and from receiving help from out- side" This aim, too, was "com. pletely. carried out" In these ens gagements the enemy troops lost in killed 59,000 men and 60,050 of- ficers and men were taken pris. oners." German Losses Iu the meantime the Germans had concentrated along the Stalin. grad-Tikhoretsk railway to the - north of Kotelulkovski in a des. berate attempt to liberate the sur- rounding divisions. The third as- signment for the Red Army, then, was to break up that counter- cow west which the Germans had made {nto one of their most important bases for the drive on Stalingrad. In this phase, "The German Fascist troeps lost in killed alone 21,000 men, and 5,200 enemy officers and men were taken prisoners." Moscow put the grand total of Germans kiled or captured since Nov. 19 at 812,650, Of course, the number of 'enemy killed {s bound to be an estimate, and may be too high. On the whole, however, Mos- cow's official cominuniques have a good reputation for fdctyal ac curacy, The picture as drawn in the review is one of ghastly loss- es for the German Army. Velikie Lukl Falls In"the North, the Germans are in another tight place through the capture of Velikie Luki which con- trols raliroads running from Mos. to the Latvian border and from Leningrad to Odessa. De- spite German denlal of the Rus- slan claims to have taken so fm- portant a center, the Russians maintain that not a single German remains in the city and that large quantities of supplies and equip- ment have been taken over. Assuming the Russian claims to be accurate, another _large block of German troops, that for months has been stationed around Rzhev, make the most of the winter sea son to drive' back the Germans from thelr spearheads at Razhev, Stalingrad, and Nalchik., From these points Hitler would lgunch a new offensive in spring. Should his troops be forced out of them, a serious rearrangement of Ger man plans clearly will be needed. Mozdok Captured Capture by the Russians of Mos. - dok near the Grozny oil fields fa the Caucasus threatens to entrap a large force of Germans in that area. Some 400 miles to the north are the 300,000 or so Germans ume der (leneral yon Hoth alreddy sur rounded around @talingrad, Hitler appears to be breaking tradition by refusing all military to operate retreats from advanced positions, where 'supplies are threatened, or completely cut off, Whether he "expects the forces at these points to hold their ground until rellet can be organized, or whether they are to be sacrificed in order to delay as long as pos- sible the Russlan advance remalns to be seen. That the Russian Army can be retarded considerably is clear both from the want of railroad connections between their forces and trom the winter rains that in a as ; : i to capture the initiative." The Roy- Moscow made the flat assertion offensive. It did so. Last week the will be in serlous danger. the Caucasus are softening the ceeded fn overcoming cortaln mill: | al Air Force uoted that is | that the ring around the Nazl | Russians captured Kotelnikovskl, The Russlan aim is clearly-to | surface of the ground. . | - - ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT | 4, Si 5, | On Wednesday, December 16th, the Prime Minister broadcast a speech on Temperance. Canadian Breweries Limited respectfully submits to the Prime Minister what it considers would have been a more suitable speech, It does 50, uot from any profit motive, since its profits are already controlled by the excess profits tax, but out of a desire to retain the public's respect for its industry and those engaged in it. | HE use of beer, wine and spirits has for long been a controversial worker on a nigh shift will have to resort to a bootlegger to get his drink: - subject in Canada and from time to time your government is called Ic is important that in this part of the British Empire we retain as high a upon to find a point of harmony between those who'do not drink at all and reserve as possible of physical and nervous energy. We must encourage N would like all those beverages prohibited; and those who dripk moderately every form of wholesome relaxation to relieve the strain of war. } and resent any interference with their liberty. If such a point of harmony ' ; . 11 wer : " could be found, and the whole subject put outside politics and religion; . 3 arast " army is concerned 48 ecb not going 3 pon oll - : J : . ; ® , vht a # < it would be a good thing for Canada's unity in wartime, and later, in peace: tn the position of saying'that a soldier who is old enough to fight and kill is - 5 t00 young to choose his refreshments with good judgment. Here again the po It is important to decide whether or not this should be a moral issue or geputations of many are spoiled by the few. whether we should look upon drinking in the same light as eating and } ~ smoking. The evidence before me shows that many Canadians indulge Ie has been; suggested to me tha I should ban liquor and beer adver: moderately in beet and spirits. These consumers, as well as those who tising but how could I in fairness do that when we continue to permit other manufacture the beverages, resent the implication that they are not good manufacturers, whose goods are rationed or in shore supply, to maintain Christians a : their advertising in order that they may keep their trade names before the = N . Co. public. Furthermore, no one will want me to banish English and American - - _ Ithink the issue becomes a moral one only ac the point hes individids periodicals from Canada. Most of them carey advertisements for brands on drink excessively and become:a nuisance. All parties should be able to agree sale in this country. How could we ban such advertising in our own : =n on this. Let us say therefore, that moderation is the ideal which all good publications and allow them in those from the United States. Canadians are eager to attain: : . or i : Ini conclusion lec me say this: Everyone of us has his awn ideas of what The next thing to determine hn DLROL GUIS 15 4 tent] ri Setion; character our fast growing nation should develop. As our urban centres I hiave every season to believe thet it is. 1 know that De Sone n grow there ate bound to be differences of opinion between people of some ; Canada, per capita, than they do in Great Britain pr > aii] Bl rural districts and those in the large cities of what, civic rights shall be Tris being $0, the problem reduces itself to i on ae Yas, ploy allowed to the people. Our laws must be so designed as to allow to each as = : ircesponsible-people who give the advocates of prohibition a falsely. dramatic much freedom of choice and self reliance as possible. Some sections of the + impression of current conditions. population look askance on dancing, theatres, smoking, drinking and many : My attention is drawn to the increased sales of beer and spirits since the types of literature. = - 2 inni i at half the rate of the rise . ; " beginning of in but fase [kjepges vas ony yw sho before were Let us resolve therefore not to force the views of one section of the 31 She Ao spall va y : community on the other. When a reasonable self-reliant people have an ile sud penniless: unreasonable law imposed upon them they simply ignore that law with : Let me say at once, there's no question of any unwillingness on anyone's disastrous a to te bon bnsthutiongiol the eae We Lopsned this at y ; } § part to make sacrifices for the war, least of all among the brewers who have bitter cost during prohibition years. he Jrekes bea My i peiage i co-operated in every way possible and I am sure will continue to do so. Bue would not want to greet our men's return from abroad with the evil spectacle y it should be pointed out here that fifty men can produce a million gallons of of prohibition. Co beer, and the basic raw materials necessary to supply the whole of Canada's i o - IW ; we need of beer are available locally in abundance. Any curtailments that do Lam gonviesd ye Copies fave the principle of mois Je il $ a become necessary we will make with precisely the same attitude and impar- teach it. Lappeal to all in this nati : p ything they ¢ h ali Th i order that we may exert the maximum impact on the enemy. In particular tiality shown to other consumer goods. Llie.one. thing I always regret TL J i op Ped, ole when restrictions are made is that moderate people are invariably the ones I appeal to brewers. and distillers ed in 4 f to be deprived: . . join forces and use every additional means at their disposal to spread the Rpitvege ! . principle of modération. I appeal to the provincial authorities to so frame There is a great deal of medical evidence to prove that a hard-working the regulations for retail sale that the business will be conducted in the , man who drinks beer moderately, not only nourishes his system, but relieves open and on the highest cthical standards and not driven underground and the nervous and physical strain of his busy day. No one will want to deprive to the bootleggers. Surely this is an effort to which all parties can agree him of this form of relaxation, nor to make its availability so difficult that a harmoniously: s : * : ' - ¥ - s : " - ~ * . - i . a tN ~ ON SAE aA oie SX gir TA ~~ Vw Tl Sea OF dO A AAA | Co . 2 in Tk pr