1940-10-30 — Page 39

THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 30, 1940

Page

CHINA MAIL ---and they're finding

WINDSOR HOUSE

JAPAN AND THE AXIS Londoners

The unpleasant conseq- uences to Japan of her de-

too tough

cision to enter into a mil-into a hell for its inhabitants.. He best evidence that Hitler is fail- household goods, reminded me taken shelter. In this district Hitler is trying to make London | of business Londoners gave the tresses, and baby buggles, piled Every one but rescuers had itary alliance with the has succeeded in making it into a ing in his task of terror. "Our painfully of the French roads last shelter caves are the only inhabit-

hades of hatred for himself. Lon- windows are broken, but our May and June. But here they able been doners are too tough for the con-,

places left. For blocks are not running away, they are around there is nothing but rub- queror of Czechoslovakia, Po-

only moving 'out until they ble. straighten up.

of

H. R. Knickerbocker.

famous U. S. Journalist now in London cent this story to American. papers

Stumbling about in the midst of London has not got the faintest | these gruesome ruins my foot. idea that Britain might fail. Yet struck a tattered kindergarten the tragedy of this furious attack school book darkly stained. I read on civilians can hardly be exag-"Many, many years ago men lived gerated.

m. caves. Men found caves very uncomfortable. They learned to house is like:" build houses. Tell what your

im-

Axis have again brought home most for-land, Denmark, Norway, Holland, |Belgium, Luxemburg and France. cibly.

To-day, after touring hours by As though the swing of daylight and hours by night feeling in the United which formed part of the heaviest throughout the City, during raids assault ever perpetrated upon any States was not enough, city except Rotterdam, it is the

Finally I reached a hall where Italy and Germany have considered opinion of this obser-

ver that no people ever stood up spirit is not," was the inscription women, and children were

upwards of 500 refugee men, taken action in Europe, in better under cruel punishment,

that they will never surrender to on a semi-wrecked clothing store,prisoned in the ruins, from which I looked about me. Now for invading Greece, at once mere pain and terror, and that

only about 100 were exiricated, the first time in thousands of years Hitler will not achieve either of his

Past us drove a truck filled with all dead but one. A fresh air raid in this era of Hitler's Luftwaffe setting Japan the need for two possible objectives which refugee children smiling.

Other signal sounded as I approached men have at last returned to their Arst. anxious enquiries as toare

through killing and trucks laden with furniture, mat-this colossal mortuary.

original dwellings. maiming the population, so to in- how deeply events may in-timidate them as to bring a mass valve her against her will. demand for peace at any price:

second, through dislocation Turkey and Soviet may communications, railroads, docks be next in the field of bat-and public utilities, to starve and demoralise the people and the tle, for the indications are armed Services until invasion can

be attempted. plain for all to see that Greece is intended merely Returning last night from a as. a stepping-stone for two-day cruise with the Royal further action, including the present giant air offensive is Navy brought the impression that seizure of command of the indeed the prelude to invasion. Straits. Japan, therefore,

It is thought most probable they may be called on to meet may be planning soon to try her obligations, in spite of directly, by trying to come up the

capture London, directly or in the fact that the Axis did Thames estuary as well as by not consult her before attacking points right and left of the river mouth, with the inten- pursuing a policy provok-tion of surrounding the City. In the words of an authority well ing opposition.

qualified to know, "I hope to God he does try."

to

At the same time, Japan is compelled to consider tish naval, military and air de

First-hand observation of Bri- the situation from the fences against such attack leads Pacific angle, and sees neutral observers to agree that it

is almost certain to fail. nothing to encourage a hasty decision, to say the least:

*

*

✡

air raids taught me that British:

A four-hour trip by railroad throughout blacked-out England Japan's entry into the in the midst of the most furious Axis partnership was, in resilience is not confined to Lon- fact, from Britain's point don alone. It also taught me that of view, the most useful this line at any rate is undamaged

and is operating normally.

pulling

London.

our

The Air Attack On

London

Mass attacks on the

Iduće public opinion to bring pres- sure on the Government to aban- don the raids.qn Germany.

Indiscriminate attacks are

2

sign that Germany is in trouble,

that she would not resort to them for it has always been expected except as a last desperate expedi-

ent.

Docks caused great damage but there has not been

London jtral observer's have recorded that

the none that seriously affects food or sign of panic.

least

that the other supplies. Nor does it mean Some effect on morale at the

docks have ceased to first onslaught might have been Raids On Germany Dover since the attack started. work, as is proved by the passage expected, for experience has shown of convoys through the Straits of that it is the early casualty lists which produce the greatest shock. i The dock area is admittedly a legitimate target, and it has al-

Germany Cuts Losses ways been realised that the ad- would inevitably suffer. joining working-class district

The constantly weight of RAF. raids on Ger

increasing

many, although confined to mili- uridoubtedly tary targets, has The price the enemy has paid in fear that pressure will be applied caused their adoption. There is no daylight mass raids was, as they to reduce their scale on that the The district has suffered more have admitted, extremely heavy. Government would yield to it if than it need have owing to the Since then, they have adopted any section of the public demand- unwillingness of the Germans to new technique, using successive ed their cessation. There is more fly low enough for accurate bomb-raids in small numbers, mainly fear that the public may demand ing.

by night, to reduce losses. The casualties caused, though very distressing, are, on the whole selves to the dock area or to legi- sequent diversion of attacks from They no longer confine them-indiscriminate reprisals with con- surprisingly small and casualties timate military targets but bomb more important military targets. in the future are likely to become the whole of London indiscrimin- If anything. were needed to less, as the evacuation of families ately.

arouse American sympathy still takes place.

This technique definitely im- of London has supplied it:

further, indiscriminate.". hombing The effect on morale has been plies an attack on the morale of mainly to cause anger, and neuthe nation and an attempt to in-

1.

The Spirit Of Britain

The lavasion Threat

Meantime, German transport, and barges în Channel and North Sea-ports are constantly attackød by the RAF.

blunder Japan has ever

This is being written in the no automatons, but men with in Britain preparation to meet made in extending the alert area every light in the train bombardments that London

The moment we entered the midst of one of the heaviest air minds of their own. The English-attacks daily become more com scope of its aggressions, was put out, but the huge engine yet, experienced. Eight million his most precious legacies from this season are unlikely to become. has man's right to grumble is one of plete, and weather conditions at Until Ribbentrop's little tinued to feel its way at a fair the very deeply, sheltered. and for freedom. The practice of the If invasion on the grand scale

crack express con- Londoners, except the very deaf, the fight that his ancestors fought more favourable, coup of a couple of months speed into the terminal station of those with plugs in their ears, are British people in grumbling stood is to be attempted it cannot be ago, the United States

hearing this shattering din-the them in good stead when the much longer delayed. The Ger- crackly burst of the anti-aircraft bombs -fell: and other nations were

It was just some-mans are reported to have glider guns, the flat thud of their ex-thing fresh to grumble at. -- troop-carriers in readiness, but it asleep:

ploding shells, the high whine of They were not ignorant of the is unlikely they will be used u the falling bombs, the deep roar dangers of air raids or the strength less there is a prospect of support and crash as they burst, Some of of the enemy. Their rulers had by sea-borne troops... those eight millions are rather not fed them with lying boasts In any case, their prospects of frightened. We are not all men that the defences of London were achieving much in a country pre- of ironi. But not a British heart impenetrable, or the enemy al-pared to deal with them quails or thinks of compromise ready at the point of submission. small

at

Immensely significant that midnight, on the fourth night of the most savage air raids, It was possible to find a taxicab within three minutes. More significant that a driver was willing to take

a fare anywhere one liked.

By Britannicus

They slept while Japan cuttled the last vestiges of its restoration-born lib- eralism. They slept while

The horror from the skies did not If invasion is not attempted, Germany set fire to the

mean a violent breach of faith purely air attack may be pro- When daylight came I started

between themselves, and those in longed, and winter nights tend to iterature and the con- out again, and drove possibly

authority over them.

facilitate-indiscriminate attacks. thirty miles through the hardest-with the enemy who has brought titution of the Weimar hit districts and summed

up this terror:

Contrast the German people, Our raids into Germany and Fears are mastered numb, voiceless, and stuffed with Italy will, however, be able to Republic. They slept, while London is still not as bad as hot and resolution hardened.

terdam, where 20,000 were killed

lies. What resilience of spirit, penetrate still further during long, Italy defined civilisation by the Luftwaffe in twenty min; don. Nor will anyone who loves ship, could be expected of them of the R.A.F. in night navigation They call this the spirit of Lon- what growing sanse of comrade nights, and the great superiority In terms of the bombing utes.. But it has now suffered this great and ancient city grudge when the R.A.F. began to ham- confers immense advantages, of an almost defenceless worse than any other elty in mythe Londoner his special mead of mer nightly at their docks, their warfare presents is the prevention The main problem prolonged air experience in Spain, China, Abys-praise for fortitude and good hu- factories and railways? They had of interruption of munition pro- sinia, and. France.

been told that Berlin would never duction during the periods of raid If placed in a continuous row,

be bombed: When Berlin' it bomb warnings. This problem is being And amid these slumb- the destroyed houses-90 per cent,

cd night after night,, their con- gallantly faced by all sections of the United States working class-would stretch for

miles.... reamed of isolation.

people.

But during hours...... „of visiting. Those dreams were damaged districts I saw only one udely interrupted by the considered military.

injured objective which could be ollapse of France and the

+

Standing in the midst of the

mour. But the spirit of London is part of the spirit of Britain, and the spirit of Britain is part of the spirit of all free men,

They Give All To

Save Freedom

adence in their leaders is gravely;| shaken, and if that confidence cracks, what have they to fall back on? Certainly not the faith of free men in an ideal that can-

Out on the streets of the Em-not be destroyed pire's capital are air-raid wardens, The Fresh At:01

stretcher-bearers, auxiliary fire- men, demolition squads, ambul

ncreasing demands on ruins of their homes and places ance drivers, men he British fleet in the At-

antic and Mediterranean,

and women

Britain

workers,

The Mediterranean Route

"One of the most, encouraging features of the present situation is the domination of the: Moditor- ranean by the Navy. It is spfor

every one of whom has volun- When the RAF bomb their for British Convoys to traverse teered for a dangerous job in the targets in Germany, the effect on the whole length from Gibraltar service of his fellows and, the de- civilian morale is like puncturing to Egypt than it is for Italian

Jobs with courage and grit, not his artificial respiration impaired, sage from Italy to Llbyn. driven by fanaticism nor coerced inexorably perishes. But the peo-The power of reinforcing in the f naval diplomacy in the Japan has made certain by discipline, but moved by the ple of Britain are surrounded by Middle East from Britain relieves acific. And Japan, sign that American opinion all to save freedom for themselves, When they in turn take their pep-felt about the Middle East situas spirit of free men who will glyc no such artificial atmosphere, anxiety, that might otherwise be ng an agreement patent- will support whatever their neighbours, and their sons. pering, they may be wounded, but tou. It opens the prospect too of a i

directed against Ameri-steps become necessary to of these volunteers, and of the found against the worst injuries. fensive action.

But it is not only in the work wounds heal, and shields can be recovery of the initiative for of- a swept away whatever safeguard the United policemen, fremen, nurses and They are not deprived of the In the air war, it is a welcome

other professional members of the fresh air that they breathe. ngering misconceptions States from the now too civil defence forces, that the spirit These are profoundly important Polish, Czech, and other Allied sigh of growing strength that ay have existed over the familiar tragedy of letting of free men is displayed. The same facts. They may be declalve in nirmon are gathering laurels as

spirit, is breathed by the whole, determining how soon... the war freely as their British and Do-: xtent to which the dicta-the aggressor strike first.

reaction of the people. Hore tre will be won.

minfoit comrades,

hrusting upon the Unit-tors would go to realise fence his country. They do their an oxygen tent: The inmate, with transports to make, the short pos d States the full burden their ambitions.