1939-12-16 — Page 10

X'MAS SALE

NOW PROCEEDING

ALL DOLLS AT

20%

OFF

ALSO A VARIETY OF CHRISTMAS CANDIES

AND CHOCOLATES FOR YOUR KIDDIES.

YEE SANG FAT

DRINK

CO., LTD.

EWO PILSNER

EAT AT

At the

H.K. Bowling Alleys

Jimmy's Kitchen

INEXPENSIVE SATISFYING

THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 16, 1939

BRITAIN'S SOLDIER SECRETARY FOR WAR

"Why? And who would you start with?" asked Mr. Amery.

The Rt. Hon. Leslie Hore-Belisha, here, sir," when he heard the news Britain's War Secretary knows the of the shooting of certain Japanese

dis- statesmen. dangers, the rigours, and the cipline of war as much as any man in the front-line trenches.

the last He joined up early in war, fought through it, rose to the rank of major, and was mentioned in dispatches.

"Hore-Belisha, sir," came the bit- ter reply.

But, in spite of sporadic criticism, Mr. Hore-Belisha achieved `a type of That war broke into his career. immortality that few statesmen can It came after his first year at Ox-hope for until their work has passed When a new inn was ford, With the coming of peace, he into history.

re- returned to Oxford and became the built at Rainham, in Kent, to

site was first post-war President of the Ox- place one of which the ford Union.

taken over by the military authori- It was then that he first showed ties, it was named the Belisha Beacon,

of

Hore-Belisha being Mr.

wrote signs of his unusual gift

to, the

able to extract vital

information innkeeper to say he was "much re- from a mass of material, One of the freshed" by the idea. favourite stories he tells against him- self is of how he passed, with flying colours, one of his papers in the Law examination without Preliminary reading a single book on the subject.

He

ΟΙ

BY

JOHN BEEVERS

ધ

to

scholar dis-

persuaded his college cuss the subject with him the night He passed, but the scholar

before. failed.

~

ધ્ર

IN FLEET STREET Mr. Hore-Belisha qualified as barrister but practised as a journa- Street. list in Fleet

• He became Liberal M.P. for Devonport in 1923.

Parliament He worked hard.

and the public soon became aware of his energy. Yet he was never too busy to neglect any interest of his stituents.

con-

in a was

The people of Devenport still re- member a little kindness he did for one of their men. One evening in 1928, Mr. Hore-Belisha heard a dock yard worker sing and dance local public-house. He struck by his ability and obtained for him an audition in the West End of London. In a few weeks the man was acting in a successfu}

revue.

In 1931 Mr. Hore-Belisha became Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, A year later he was Fin- ancial Secretary to the Treasury. In 1934 he became Minister of Tran- sport. In 1935 he became.a.. Privy

was

To-day Mr. Hore-Belisha controls the British Army.

At 45, he is one of the youngest He War Ministers in our history. has held office at a difficult time.

He has had to make decisions vital to He has made the Empire's safety. these decisions with courage vigour.

and

there

During his period of office has been tension in Europe, tension which has finally ended in war. Bri- tain has introduced conscription in peace-time,

BETTER CONDITIONS

The army has become a mechanis- ed force. Changes have had to be made in its General Staff. All these have been carried through by Mr. Hore-Belisha.

Never, however, despite the ques- tions of high policy with which he has dealt, has he forgotten the or- dinary Tommy. His constant care has been to improve the conditions of Army life for the private.

As Minister of War, he has visited Militia Camps, Territorial Units, and the barracks of the regular soldier. Everywhere he has suggested impro-

and vements

had them carried through.

He and the men immediately un- der him have had the vast task of sending the British Expeditionary Force to France. This was accom- plished without a hitch. Mr. Hore- Belisha has paid generous tribute to the directing officers who made it possible. He deserves much of the credit himself.

EFFORTS TO

Councillor. In May, 1937, he AVOID XMAS

appointed Secretary of State for War, As Minister of Transport he proved his mettle. He' stirred the country to a full realisation of the gravity of the traffic problem. His methods were unorthodox but strikingly suc- cessful. With the ubiquitous "Belisha Beacon" as

he a symbol,

STRIKE

SHANGHAI, TO-DAY. WITH THE CHRISTMAS AND pushed NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES CLOSELY through reform after reform-each APPROACHING, EVERY EFFORT IS one giving new safety to

the men

BEING MADE TO PREVENT A GEN- and women walking and driving ERAL STRIKÈ IN THE CITY. about British streets.

Late last night meetings were held BELISHA BEACON

between representatives of workers Some motorists objected to his and employers to reach agreements. legislation. At an annual dinner of

Employees of the Wing On Weaving National Products the Institute of Transport, Mr. Hore-factory and the Belisha told a story about Mr. L. S. Company, resumed work yesterday Amery's chauffeur, who declared to morning, a compromise being reached. Mr. Amery, "I wish we did that Our Own Correspondent.

ROSIE'S BEAU-

BY

JEO. McMANUS

Roglivered U. S. Front Ofer

I'LL JUST USE THE BOSS PHONE WHILE HE IS OUT AND CALL

UP MY DARLING LITTLE ROSIE-

HELLO-PRECIOUS-THIS IS YOUR OWN LITTLE ARCHIE BOY-I JUS CALLED YOU UP LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU-

MORNING-

I-ER-AH-HUH ? WELL- AS I

WAS SAYING-

YOU SEE-I WISH#YOLİ'D LET US SEND OVER 'SOME SAMPLES OF OUR MERCHANDISE OUR SPRING, LINE IS IN NOW-AN >

ARCHIE ! WHAT IS

THE MATTER. WITH YOU?

YOU'RE JUST A DEAR- ARCHIE-YOU'RE SO CUTE WHEN YOU TALK "BABY TALK"..