THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 18, 1940
ENGLAND WILL FIGHT ON TILL CURSE OF
HITLER IS LIFTED
London, To-day.
Mr. Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister, in a broadcast last night, said "The news from France is very sad and I grieve for the gallant French people who have fallen into this terrible mis- fortune.
"Nothing will alter our feelings towards them or our faith that the genius of France will rise again.
"What has happened in France makes no difference to the British faith and purpose. We have become the sole champions now in arms to defend a world cause.
"We shall do our best to be worthy of this high honour.
"We shall defend our island and with the British Empire around us shall fight on unconquer- able until the curse of Hitler is lifted from the brows of man.
"We are sure that in the end all will be well.”.
-Reuter.
BRITAIN WILL FIGHT ON TO VICTORY
RESOLUTE:
London, To-day.
THE STATEMENT THAT Britain and the British AMERICAN Commonwealth of Nations are determined to DEFENCES
continue the struggle until victory, was reiterat- ed in authoritative circles in London last night. No further information on the French situation was available in view of the expected statement by Mr. Winston Churchill to-day.
(SPECIAL TO “CHINA-MAIL”)
Washington, To-day. « President Roosevelt yesterday sign- ed two bills converting them into laws, authorising an air force of 10,000
planes and 16,000 pilots and increas-
ing the Navy by 21 warships.
There is no tendency, however, to disguise the seri- poses credits of $1,200,000,000 for the
ousness of the blow to the Allied cause.
Quite apart from any question of obligation or honour to their Allies, there is reason to believe the French people will show themselves by no means less spirited than the other countries over-run by the Germans who are continuing, their, resistance passively and actively at home and overseas, thereby making the German task of exploitation. more and more difficult.
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It is remarked that countries may be overrun by tanks but cannot be
governed by tanks.
The Administration also approved a new Naval Expansion Bill which pro-
construction of 84 additional warships. -Havaş.
BRITONS WITH THEIR BACKS TO BACKS TO THE WALL
London, To-day.
THE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE Briton who fights better when he has his back to the wall is emphasised in the "Daily Telegraph" leader, which bears the inspiring heading "On To Victory."
The French traditionally do not take After a sympathetic reference to the French army's dif-
kindly to invaders.
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Comment is made that it sometimes happens that the more spectacular an advance of this nature the more spec- tacular is the subsequent withdrawal.
Reuter.
Canada's Determination
Ottawa, To-day.
"I can say with confidence that the fate of France will strengthen rather, than weaken Canada's determination and will intensify her war effort," said Mr. Mackenzie King, the Prime Minis- ter, in reply to a question in the Canadian Parliament. Reuter.
Effect Not Assessable
London, To-day.
The effect of a pronouncement of such magnitude and gravity as was made by Marshal Petain, France's new Premier yesterday morning can- not immediately be assessed.
Official quarters in London point out that clearly it must now be ex- pected that France will be very large- ly overrun by the enemy-British Wirt
ficulties the paper, the views of which are echoed by the entire press, writes: Britain and the Dominions and the whole Empire find nothing in the changed situation weakens their resolution to continue the
uggle.
ADMIRALTY
GETS READY FOR RAIDS
London, To-day.
The Admiralty have made an order requiring the presence in overy. British ship in a United Kingdom port of a sufficient 'number of members of the crow' to man defensive equipment and fire-fighting appliances.
Seamen are warned that ab- sence without leave is now pun- Ishable with severe penalties under the defence regulations- Reuter,
BRITISH OFFER UNION
London, To-day. The sensational reve. lation that the British Government, in a des- perate last-minute effort to bolster French re- sistance, proposed solemn Act of Union between the two coun-. tries, was made in London last night. The draft declaration, it is stated, to the French was communicated Government by the British Ambas- They are confident in their cause, inj Our own civilian morale is protected sador on Sunday, stating that "the their fighting power, and there by air defences both on the ground two Governments declare France and sources which support them." Old and in the fighter squadrons much Britain shall no longer be two nations wars discovered that the ranks of the more complete than any which the but one Franco-British Union." British Infantry. were never so stub-Germans have yet encountered. When
Authoritative quarters in London born, their spirit never so high, as in we recall the striking success of our the last hours of a flerce battle. That planes and pilots against German
-state that the declaration of Union is the temper of the soul which has bombers in France
was based on the understanding 1
we have the built, up the strength of our country strongest reason to believe that Bri
that France would continue fighting. and the British Commonwealth
As the French had now sued for an tish fighters operating close by their armistice, it may be assumed the plan Nations.
own bases will take a heavy per- has lapsed for the time being. centage off the German strength it. large raids are attempted. against German aerodromes, fuel time, considération might be given to tanks and factories will also wear
repeating the offer Reuter. down the striking power of the enemy, the continental scale are standing by
for. home defence. /
of
Its natural force has not abated. But the Government must imbue every
man in the country with the convic tion that he in his own person is rea- ponsible for the conduct and result of the war, We have to expect that in coming weeks, and months all the terrors which Nazidom has employed against other countries will be launch- ed against our shores.
Air Terrorisation German use of the air arm has been shuttering of more
ple,
The effects of the counter-offensive
Invasion Threat
were
The possibilities of invasion never so numerous as to-day,
We are not unprepared for them, Never had we had such MGEEGS men under arms; so much llery and mechanical overwhelm planned ami equ
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It is possible, however, that "if circumstances change at some future
force through
It is unlikely that an iny of any large size would" the watch and ward of the navy and air force. A fair survey of the danger tacks on our island leads there,
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Private notes are available after approval.