1940-05-20 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 20, 1940

Mr. Churchill Broadcasts Stirring Rally Call

INVINCIBLE CONFIDENCE

LONDON, TO-DAY.

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL, BROADCASTING AT 8 O'CLOCK LAST EVENING, SAID: “I SPEAK TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME AS PRIME MINISTER IN A SOLEMN HOUR IN THE LIFE OF OUR COUNTRY AND EMPIRE, OF OUR ALLIES AND, ABOVE ALL, IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. "A tremendous battle is raging in France and Flan- ders. The Germans, by a remarkable combina- tion of air bombing and heavily armoured tanks, have broken through the French defences north of the Maginot Line, and strong columns of their armoured vehicles are ravaging open country which, for the first day or two, was without de- fenders.

"They have penetrated deeply and have spread Behind, alarm and confusion in their track. there are now pouring infantry in lorries, and be- hind them again, large masses are moving for- ward.

"The regroupment of the French armies to make a head against and also to strike at this intrüding wedge, has been proceeding over several days, largely assisted by the magnificent feats of the R.A.F.

"I am sure I speak for all when I say we are ready to face it, en- dure it and retaliate against it to any extent that the unwritten laws . of war permit..

“IF WE FIGHT TO THE END IT CAN ONLY BE GLOR- -IOUS":

states and bludgeoned races-

Danes, Czechs, Poles, Norwegians, Dutch and Boiglans-upon· áll⠀ of whom the long night of barbarism will descend, unbroken even by a star of hope, unless we conquer, as conquer we must, as conquer shall.

Call And Spur

We

is

"To-day is Trinity Sunday. Cen- turies ago words were written to be a call and spur to faithful servants of truth and justice: 'Gird yourselves "There will be many men and wo- and be ye men of valour and be in men in this island who, when the readiness for the conflict, for it will, will feel comfort and even pride to look upon the outrage of our na- our lads at the front-soldiers, sailors is in Heaven so let him do.'"-Reuter. and airman, God bless them-and are

ordeal comes upon them, as come it better for us to perish in battle than what they are sharing the perils of tion and altars. As the will of God

drawing away from them a part at

least of the onslaught they have to bear.

"Is not this the appointed time for all to make the utmost exertion If the battle. Is In their power?

to be won we must provide our men' with ever-increasing quantities of the weapons and ammunition they need.

Imperious Need

"There is good evidence to show that practically the whole of the specialised mechanised forces of the onemy have been already thrown into the battle, and we know heavy losses have been inflicted on them. "No officer or man, no brigade or division, which grapples at close quar-vital munitions.

wherever en- unex-ters with the enemy,

countered, can fall to give a worthy contribution to the general results.

"We must not allow ourselves to be intimidated by the presence of these armoured vehicles in pected places behind our lines. If they are behind our front the French fighting are also at many points behind theirs.

"Armies must cast away the Idea of resisting an attack behind con- crete lines or natural obstacles and must reallso that mastery can only be regained by a furious, unrelent- ing assault, "And

only this spirit must not animate the High Command but must inspire every fighting man.

Odds In The Air

more

"We must have, and have quickly, planes, tanks, shells and guns there is an imperious need for these

BRITAIN FINDS HER LEADER

Washington, To-day.

Mr. Churchill's 'broadcast was heard by radio listeners in the United States. His ringing tones had a tonic effect the on countless hearers throughout

: firm confidence in the "They . Increase our

strength country; his against a powerfully armed enemy French and. British forces and His and replace the wastage of an ob brief incisive description of the battle stinate struggle, and the knowledge now raging were a welcome antidote that the wastage will speedily be re- after the columns of depressing news placed gnables us to draw more printed throughout the country for

throw the past week. reserves and readily upon them

In

when everything now, means so much.

the "Our task is not only to win

After this battle but to win the war. battle in France abates its force there will come a battle for our island, for alf that Britain is and all that Britain

►

Observere see as a result of his Insistence on the value of assault an early Allied counter-offensive cut- ting off the "buige."

They say the speech was not the speech of a leader of a desperate people but a leader of knowledge, vi- sion and action who sees beyond the present dark days.

Dangerous Positions "Both sides are in extremely dan- gerous positions and if the French army and our own army are well handled, as I believe they will be, if the French retain that genius for re- covery and counter-attack for which they have for so long been famous,

"In the air, even at serious odds and if the British army shows that dogged endurance in fighting power of hitherto thought overwhelming,

Supreme Emergency

There is a general expression of which there have been so many ex-| have been clawing down three or four amples in the past, then a sudden to one of our enemies, and the rela-

"That will be the struggle; in that opinion that Britain has found her transformation of the scene might tive balance of the British and Ger-

man air force is now

supreme emergency we shall not he-real leader in Mr. Churchill-Reuter, considerably spring into being.

more favourable to us than at the besitate to take every step, even the most drastic, to call for the last inch of ginning of the war,

effort of which we are capable.

we

"In cutting down the German bombers we are fighting our own battles as well as those of France.

means.

"The interest of property and hours of labour are nothing compared to the struggle for life and honour, for life and freedom, to which we have vow- ed ourselves.

"It would be foollsh, however, to It disguise the gravity of the hour. would be still more foolish to lose heart and courage or to Виррове that well-trained and well-equipped armies numbering three to four mil- lions, could be overcome within the

"I have received from the Chiefs of space of a few weeks or even months by a scoop

the French Republic and particularly mechanised or, raid of

from their indomitable Prime Minis- vehicles; however formidable, "We may look forward with confl-

At the same time, our heavy bom-ter, M. Reynaud, the most sacred dence on the stabilisation of the front bers are striking at the tap-root of pledges that whatever happens they in. France, and the general engagement of masses will enable the qualities of the German mechanised power. They will fight to the end, be it bitter or

the British and French soldiers to be matched squarely against those of their adversaries..

Invincible Confidence. "For myself, I have an invincible confidence in the French army and its leaders. It is only a very small part that army that has yet been heavily engaged, and only a very small part of France has yet been invaded.

"My confidence in our ability to fight it out to a finish with the Ger- man air force has been streng-. thened by the fierce encounters which have taken place, and taking place.

are

the

have already inflicted serious damage upon oil refineries, upon which Nazi effort to dominate the world directly depends.

Air Raids Expected

"We must expect that as soon as stability has been reached

on. the western front, the bulk of that force which gashed Holland into ruin and smoke in a few days, will be turned

upon us.

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STRICTER CONTROL

OF INDUSTRY

LONDON, TO-DAY. REUTER'S PARLIAMEN··

nay, if we fight to MR. CHURCHILL'S DECLARATION: TARY CORRESPONDENT STATES be it glorious

THAT CONSIDERATIONS OF PRI. the end it can only be glorious.

"Having received His Majesty's VATE PROPERTY WILL NOT-^ BE Commission I have formed an ad- ALLOWED TO STAND IN THE WAY ministration of men and women of OF THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY every party and almost every point of view...

Cost And Agony "We have differed and quarelled in the past, and now one bond unites us all, to wage war until victory is won and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame, whatever the cost and agony may be.

"If this is one of the most awe- striking periods in the long history of France and Britain, It is also beyond doubt the most sublime, "Side by side, unaided except by their kith and kin in the great Domin- ions and by the wide Empires which rast beneath their shield, side by side the British and French people ∙advanced to cuè not only but mankini

the foules

most Bou

has

stained

18 BELIEVED IN POLITICAL CIR- CLES TO FORESHADOW FAR STRICTER CONTROL BY THE GOV- ERNMENT OVER INDUSTRY THAN 18 EXERCISED NOW.

It is thought likely the State will take control of a large number of privately owned factories, producing war equipment in order to intensify production,

It is thought a decision in this con- nexion is probable soon. Reuter.

CANADIAN SPEED-UP

EXPECTED

have trope

It is exp

will

awa;

Churchill's de-

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