1940-10-03 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 3, 1940.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

THE REAL WAR

There is one attribute of the British people which Hitler has judged with ap- proximate accuracy. We are not a naturally belli- -gerent people. We have enjoyed so great a mea- sure of freedom in our way of thinking and liv- ing that we are apt to take a benevolent view of the outside world with which we have wished to remain in peace and friendship.

It may be difficult, even in wartime to rid our- selves entirely of this ten- dency. We are well aware that every Briton worth the name detests Nazism as a loathsome tyrannous conception. We are re- solved to fight it, until either the Nazis or we are extinguished. There is no middle course: · •

No: 12.

A corner of Gibraltar, our› Meditorranean stronghold.

No: 21

No. 3.

Mem off the Brition Army ready, to. man a big, gun at Gibraltar. One of the 3,7 anti-aircraft. guns on guard.

No: 4. H.M.5, "Ramillies", one of the battlechips of the Mediterranean Fleet, in dock at Gibraltar.

Key To

To The

enemy fleets during the last two hundred years.

Pother

Page:

Mediterranean

to Gibraltar-while palm-trees, monkey-trees and other sub-tro- pical vegetation flourish in the Alameda Gardens, and in a few squares and streets. The streets themselves are well-known for their highly-coloured' shop-fronts, chiefly Indian bazaars, with a few old Spanish curio shops full of musty treasures.

And yet when invasion is threatened and does not immediately take place we are inclined as a people- and this excludes the Fighting Forces to get off our toes and relax:.to allow secondary matters to take possession of our

Gibraltar, Britain's Naval Key | leading from the.custom's barrier | Morocco, for the "Rock" itself is flowers, ferns and shrubs-one to the Western Mediterranean; has at La Linea along the causeway too small and barren to be cul- plant, the "Iberis" being peculiar thoughts.

recently been subjected to bomb- to the "North Front" he would get tivated, although it has luxuriant It may be typical of our ng attacks which its anti-aircraft a rude surprise. For this only vegetation in places:

defences repelled successfully. level part of the whole promon- The climate is sub-tropical, the race, but it is also danger- With the same success British tory is the most highly defended heat in summer and when the ous. The Prime Minister guns on Gibraltar have fired on of all, lying as it does under the East wind or "Levanter" "blows fire of batteries cunningly hidden being oppressive and damp. But has found it necessary to

in the steep cliffs above, where the spring, winter, and autuinn are repeat to the nation that

A natural fortress, rising sheer the famous "Galleries" were cut delightful, in spite of a heavy from the sea on three sides. to a through the rock during the rainfall, and thanks to the sanitary invasion, which seemed so height of over 1,400 feet, it is "Great Siege" of 1779 to 1783, and improvements of the last fifty

Such is Gibraltar, the Western near when France collap- practically inaccessible except on still ufford excellent cover and years the death rate stands com-

its more gradual western slope air-raid protection. Here also are parison with that of Englands gateway to the Mediterranean, sed, is not less likely to-which is protected by the defences the air-water catchways and of limestone formation, the first traded with by: the Phoeni❤ day.

of the Town, Dockyards and Har-storage tanks, so that there is no "Rock" is rich in natural defen- cians, Carthaginians und Greeks, bour Above these are nine-inch danger of water shortage even in ces such as cave sand tunnels, in then colonised by the Romans, The brilliant successes guns; (as shown in Picture 2) the event of a modern sicge. which the fossils of many mam- captured by the Moors, re-taken The entire "Rock" now bristics mals have been discovered, the by the Spaniards under Ferdinand of the R.A.F: against mass overlooking Algeciras Bay to-

wards Tarifa, where the Moors with coastal batteries, (Picture 1), "Rock Apes' being said to have and Isabella of Spain, surrender- enemy air attacks may first landed in the eighth century. which have been built or con- come by an underground tunneled to Britain in 1704,

who has have again induced The Moors attacked and captur-verted from old forts-on every from Africa, Although the soil is since held it to guard the Straits а ed "Calpe," as it was their call- rocky point and corner of the pro- of a rocky nature (as seen in of Gibraltar in peace and war, as fatal mood of relaxation.ed, from the land side under Tarik, montory. Any attacking Fleet Picture 3) it abounds with wild a bulwark to defend her Empire. It should be dispelled by who named it "Gibel Tarik" would have to run the gauntlet of (Tarik's Hill) which has become tormidable coastal batteries before the recent. words. of. the Gibraltar."

reneling-the-Inner. Harbour, · Secretary for War. Mr.thinks he can capture the Rock" has been proved throughout its But if any, would-be aggressor The invincibility of. Gibraltar Eden reminded the coun-to-day from the sandy isthmus history; although it surrendered try that for us the real

during the war of the Spanish Suo÷ ression to the combined English and Dutch fleets under Sir George Rookh and the Prince of Hesse Darmstadt in 1704. It was, finally,

A RIDDLE FOR NAZIS pied countries.

. Child Evacuees

Thrive

"

By. Daphne Clare

For the English town child is adaplable and takes a keen inter- est in every activity.

Frequently they run allotments. One school took over-acre of rough land and in the first sea- son produced enough vegetables to feed everybody. The same school got hold of a barn where the boys saw logs and do carpen try, while the girls have a class where they mend and make

war has hardly begun. It British Air Force has been will begin when we have swept from the skies-

They are helping with the har- The half million children moved vest, have learned to milk cows, resisted and destroyed just as the Royal Navy, as ceded to Great Britain by th from danger zones under the churn butter, feed animals, ride They are help- the enemy attempts to in- every Nazi knows, has Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Since British Government scheme are the farm horses

then covetous eyes have frequent thriving on the minor revolution ing to dig potatoes and gather in vade us, when we have been driven from the been cast at Gibraltár, and at- which evacuation has brought in the fruit crops. They pull sugar built an

expeditionary oceans-"those devils, of tempts have been made to take to their lives. Every report made beet, gather acorns for fodder and gather, wash and grade the .oggs_ It by arms or diplomacy. The by the éducation authorities or force of a strength and the R.A.E." as an exasper-ider Pitt is. snid to have con- by officials of the Ministry of murke. Where there are riv striking power sufficient ated German officer call templated exchanging it for Flurt Health emphasises the same thing: ers or lakes many have learned to da or Puerto Rico,, but popular "an. amazing improvement in fish; to manage sailing boats and to roll back the enemy ed them, persist in doing feeling was too strong to allow it health all round."

rowing boats. from the lands he has vio- such damage every night

During the Napoleonto Wars it The mass exodus has dona more was invaluable as a Naval base, than place the children in safer lated.

to military objectives in with its Dockyards affording re- areas. It is broadening their ou Germany and the occu-pairs and supplies to the Fleet, look in a way which would have and it was to Gibraltar that the body; of Lord: Nelson was; brought If the British Air Force after his death and victory a

Trafalgar. To this day the room; Even the good-Nazi is beaten how can it con- may be seen where he lay in the been impossible under peace con- clothes, knit socks and jumpers that is; the purblind fana- tinue to function with eightconth century house by Rosie ditions. It is introducing them to and mend their own stockings and tic who gives the credence such destructive effect? British sea-Captains and Admirals the countryside, to new people, the boys' socks. They made the Bay. The guns of many famous, of the slave mind to every- Here is a riddle which will have been heard from Gibraltar new ways of living, new ideas, uniforms for the entire company

new customs. Though not of the of their own girl guides. Drake, Howard of Effingham, I thing handed out to him tax the mental agility of Blake, Howe, Rooke and many text book kind, this is education. In their turn the town children Education of a very valuable kind. nid their teachers have brought by Goebbels-must have a the unscrupulous: Goeb-more.

Is Most of these children were from a new stimulus into the village faint glimmering of sus- bels. Not all the miracles somewhat hard-hit,

Economically Gibraltar

us her maine towns--some of them did not life. London schools, for instance, picion that all is not well of multiplication which revenue is derived from port and know what an egg looked like have the advantages of! highly harbour dues, Crown rents, and Now they are learning the in-trained teachers and in some enses with the German Air his accountants. perform duties on tobacco and alcohol im-finite delights of spring and sum equipment which the country Force.

on the losses of our air-ported for home consumption Amer woods, of the meadows and school would not have at its dis It is doubtful if he has craft nor their equally, as Gibraltar is now just a new country friends are teaching

Their posal. this is, of course, largery, curtail-sweet-smelling hayfields.

The use of aims is a notable enough of independent marvellous division of the fortress, with the defence of the them country ways and customs; example. Town schools are gen- "Rock" overshadowing all other ways to close a gate after you erally ahead of village schools in thinking left to tot up the German machines tumbl-considerations. It was, however, so that the "stock" will not wan- using the good supply of Alms scores of British aircraft ed out of the skies by our one of the ports for contraband der not to trample on the crops available on many subjects, and which Goebbels destroys. airmen can answer this and out of the Western Mediter wasted food. For the first time in evacuated London schools and trol, and all ships passing in because damago to them means 120 projectors have gone out with But the effect of these irritating question. The rancan had to call there

their lives they are learning, and over 3,600 films have been sent fantastic figures may be good Nazi must be begin British Fleet supplies might be community owes to the land an00 a week. A London teacher If it were not protected by, the athurst hand, how much every out from the films library about to cause him to wonder ning to shake his bewild-difficult in war-time, as all fresh the farmers.

using them for his class has often how it is that since thelered head.

fruit;, medts and vegetables are All these lessons they hav. I made the country teacher realise imported eithen: from Spain, or shown themselves quick to learn, .what he has been missing.