1941-04-28 — Page 2

THE CHINA MAIL, APRIL 28, 1941.

MR. CHURCHILL'S BROADCAST

UNDERSTOOD BUT EVEN OF TRIUMPH."

How Near The Greek Project Came Off

Inspiring Speech To Empire: Result

Not In Doubt

IN MORTAL PERIL, THE GREEKS TURNED TO US FOR SUCCOUR AND WE COULD NOT SAY THEM NAY, DECLARED MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL, IN HIS BROADCAST TO THE EMPIRE, THERE WERE RULES AGAINST THAT KIND OF THING AND TO BREAK THEM WOULD BE FATAL TO THE HONOUR OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE, WITHOUT WHICH WE COULD NEITHER HOPE NOR DESERVE TO WIN.

"During the last year we have given of our best and have taken potent hold of the sentiments

It happened that the divisions available as best suited for the task in Greece were from New Zealand and Australia, and only the people of the United States. about half the troops who took part came from the Mother Country.

German propaganda was trying to make bad blood between Britain and Australia over this, but I shall leave it to Australia to deal with that."

There was a real hope that the neighbours of Greece would, by the British intervention, be per- suaded to stand in line with her. How nearly it came off would be known in some days.

very

"We must expect the war in the Mediterranean

become to fierce, varied and widespread. In order to win this war Hitler musi either conquer this island by in- vas'on er eut the ocean lifelines which join Us with the Unite: States.

"Nothing that is happening now is comparable in gravity to the time through which we pass

Nothing that can the East is compar-

ed last year. happen in

able with what is happening in

the West."

Mr. Churchill said he had come back reassured and refreshed fron his tour of some of the raided In just those places where areas. the malice of the savage enemy had done its worst he had found the morale of the people most high and plendid.

"The British nation is stirred and moved as it has never been at any time in its long, event- ful and famous history, and it is no hackneyed figure of speech to say they mean to conquer or die."

Mr. Churchill said: "The triumph of battered cities' life over fire and the worst the bomb could do was

a vindication of free in- stitutions and the civilised way

Those sublime of living.

and terrible emotions of the battlefield were experienced now by women and children.

all,

the gravity, as it was described, their sacrifices be in vain."

of the war situation, so he thought

it would be a good thing to go and see for himself what this uneasi- ness amounted to.

Wavell's Triumph

ክር

{

Flaming Flash

of

He was sure a great many mil lions in the British Empire and the United States would find new objects in life in making sure that when we come to the final reckon- ng THIS ABSURD IMPOSTER SHALL BE ABANDONED TO PUBLIC JUSTICE AND UNIVER. SAL SCORN."

Vexatious

elther conquer this island by in- vasion of he must cut the òboan fireline which Jolna us to the United States.

"When I spoke to you carly in February many people believed the Nazi boasts that an invasion

of Britain was about to begin. We Grow Stronger

"It has not begun yet and with every week that passes we grow stronger on sea, in the air and in numbers, quality, training and equipment of the great armles that now guard our land."

Mr. Churchill said that when he Mr. Churchill continued: "While compared the position at home to- these grievous events were taking day with what it was in summer place in the Balkans our forces last year he felt we had very much for, and provided in Libya sustained a vexatious to be thankful

exertions and vigilance were not and damaging defeat,

relaxed, even for a moment, we ought to be confident we should give a very good account of our- selves.

"MORE THAN THAT IT WOULD BE BOASTFUL то SAY. LESS THAN THAT IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO BE-

er

The German advance was soon. and in greater strength than we and our generals expected. The bulk of our armoured troops. which had played such a decisive part in beating the Italians, had to be refitted.

Atlantic Lifeline

The single armoured brigade | LIEVE. which had been judged sufficient to hold the frontier until the worsted middle of May was

"Than how about our lifeline and its vehicles largely de-

across the Atlantic? What is stroyed by a somewhat strong-

to happen If so many of our er German armoured force.

merchant ships are sùnk that "Our infantry, which did not fall

we cannot bring in the food we exceed one diviston, had to

need to nourish our people? "What if the supplies of war armies which had been assem-materials and war weapons which bled and could be nourished and maintained in the fertile delta of the Nile.

"Never, never in our long his- tory, have we been held in such back on the very large Imperial admiration and regard across the

Allantie.

Tobruk

of

To-

to

the United States is seeking send us in enormous quantities should in large parts be sunk on the way? What is to happen then?

"In February, Hitler in one of his raving outbursts, threaten- ed us with a terrifying increase in the numbers and activities of his U-boats and in his aft at- tacks not only on our islands but * upon our shipping far out in the Atlantic.

"In the long run, believe me for I know, the action of the Unil- ed States will be dictated not by mathematical calculations of pro-

morul senti- "Tobruk, the fortress ft and loss but by ment and by that flaming flash of bruk, which flanks any German resolve which lifts the hearts of advance on Egypt, we held strong- There We have repulsed men and nations und springs from ly. the foundations of human life it-many attempts causing the enemy self.

many losses and taking many "We were bound to respond to prisoners.

That is how the matter stands the Greek appeal to the utmost

the Egyptian limit of our

the in Libya and on strength, and Dominions of Australia and New frontier. We must now expect the Mediterranean, on Zealand and their Government war in the told us they felt the same as we the sea, in the desert and, above did.

all, in the air, to become very "So an important

part of the fierce, varied and widespread. mobile portion of the Army of the

"We cleared the Italians outtle of the Atlantic which, in order to survive, we have got to win as Nile was sent to Greece in fulf of Cyrenaica and it now lies ment of our pledge.

with us to purge that province decisively as we had to win the Battle of Britain last August and of the Germans. That will be

September in the air. a harder task and

cannot We expect to do it at once.

mained.

The Taunt

"How nearly that came off will¦ be known some day."

FL

Too Late

Mistakes

"We have taken and are taking all possible measures to beat this deadly attack and we are now fighting against it.

"That is what is called the Bat-

First Place

"Wonderful exertions are being made by the Navy and Air Force. by hundreds of minesweepers which keep the ports clear in spite of all the enemy can do, by the inch who build and repair our immense

fleets

of merchant

to

"It happened that the divisions the inen, | available and best suited to

task were from New Zealand and Australia, and only about half the "1 never try to make out that Grand And Heroic

I have never troops who took part in this dan-defeats are victories.

from gerous episode came

the underrated the Germans as war- "This indeed is a grand and Mother Country.

riors. Indeed, I told you months herolc period of our history and

"I sec German propaganda Is ago that the swift and unbroken the light of glory shines upon trying to make bad blood between course of victories which we had

us and Australia by making out gained over the Italians could not ships, by the men who load and "You muy imagine how Search For Unease

deeply I feel my own responsibil- we have used them to do what we possibly continue and that mis- unload them, and by the officers

and men of the Merchant Navy. would not have asked of the Bri-fortunes had to be accepted. ity towards all these people, mytish Army.

"Still, when you think how easy I shall leave it to "There is only one thing cer- responsibility to bear my part in Australia to deal with that taunt. Last week

tain about war and that is that it is to sirk ships at sea and how he had been asked bringing them safely out of this!

it is 10 build and protect whether he was aware of some of long, stern and scowling

"We knew the force we should It is full of disappointments and hard valley sent to Greece would not by them-

them, when you remember how the uneasiness which was said to through which we are marching selves alone be sufficient to stem

full of mistakes.

never have less than 2,000 exist in the country on account of and not demand of

"It remains to be seen, however, we them that

The German tide of invasion, whether it is the Germans who ships afloat and 300 to 400 in dan- "But there was a very real hope have made a mistake in trampl-ger areas, when you think of the that the neighbours of Greece ing down the Balkan states and great armies we maintain and the would be drawn to stand in line in making a river of blood and reinforcements in the East and the

we have together with her while time re-hate between themselves and the world-wide traffic Mr. Churchill revealed that in

Greek and Yugoslav peoples, carry, can you wonder that it is "I WENT TO SOME OF OUR none of his successful victories

"IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN the Battle of Atlantic which holds GREAT CITIES AND SEA- could General Wavell maintain

WHETHER THEY HAVE MADE first place in the thoughts of those PORTS WHICH HAVE BEEN in the desert or bring into

A MISTAKE IN THEIR AT-upon whom rests the responsibilt- HEAVILY BOMBED. TO SOME'tion at one time more than about

TEMPT TO INVADE EGYPT ty for procuring the victory? PLACES WHERE THE POOREST, 30,000 men.

WITH THE FORCES AND PEOPLE HAVE GOT IT WORST.

Referring to Yugoslavia, Mr. MEANS OF SUPPLY WHICH 1 COME BACK NOT ONLY RE-

Churchill said the tragedy was THEY HAVE NOW GOT. ASSURED BUT REFRESHED.

"It is therefore, with indescrib- when a brave people ruse against "To leave the offices of White-

The Greek nation, reviving their a government who hoped to pur-

able relief that I learned of the hall, with their ceaseless hum of Italian armies back, but mean- mission to Nazi rule, they

classical fame, had hurled the chase ignoble immunity by sub-

tremendous decision lately taken activity and stress, and go to the while Hitler had been crawling the soul and future of their coun-made it a rule never to prophecy | United States.

saved "Taught by experience, I have by the President and people of the streets and wharves of London, and worming his Liverpool,

"American warstrips and flying- Manchester, Card ff.

way steadily try but it was already too late to about battles yet to be fought out: Swansea and Bristol, is like going his mind to come to the rescue

forward and suddenly mude up save its territory.

I should be very sorry to see boats have been ordered to pa- out of a hothouse onto the bridge of his fellow criminal.

the wide waters of the "Only in the mountains can the tasks of the combatants in trol of fighting ships.

the Middle East exchanged and western hemisphere and to warn Lack of unity among the Bal- she continue resistance,

to peaceful shipping of all nations "The Greeks have been over-

for General Wavell's armies kan tes had enabled him 10 build a mighty army in

powered, their victorious Alban-be in the position of the German outside the combat zone of the their

Invaders.

presence of lurking U-boats or been cut off and ian army has midst,

"It is certain that fresh dangers raiding cruisers belonging to the forced to surrender and it has Strained as were our resour-

besides those which threaten two aggressor nations. ces we could not say the Greeks been left to the Australians and

the Nay. The Greeks declared their British comrades to fight a Egypt may come upon us in

Mediterranean. The war may Trom they would fight own native poll if malther of mark on all who hindered them. spread to Spain and Morocco. It their heighbours made kommon "I turn aside to Indulge for may spread eastwards to Turkey cause with them and we left moment in a little light relier, and Russia.

Thè “Gormans may lay their I dare say you have read in 'the

handa for 'a'time' on the granar- i newspapers that by special pro-

ies of the "Ukraine or the oll clamation the Italian Dictator has

walls of the Caucasus, "They may dominate the Caspian; "Who pan tell? :

Strong Doses

"It is a tonic I should recom- mend any who are suffering from fretfulness to take in strong doses when they have need of it,

"Indeed, I feel comforted by the exaltation of spirit of the people Which vormed

to lift

mankind above the Jovol material facta into the joyous serenity we think befongs to better world than this.

of

bombed areas,

said:

Wo

When

reached Benghazi, a call was made upon us which we could not resist.

them to their fate.

Fortunes Of War

their way

back to

the sea, leaving

Albania on the glorious laurels they have gained by the victory without over the Greeks,

"HERE SURELY IS A WORLD'S RECORD IN THE DO-

Experience

Avenging Justice

Tremendous Decision

"We British will therefore be able to concentrate

our pro- tecting forces'far "more" úpon routes nearer home and to take a far heavier toll of U-boats. there,

"I have felt for some time that. something like this was bound to happen.

Causé Just

Referring to the people in the We could not do that kind of congratulated the Italian army in

Mr. Churchill thing and to break those rules would be fatal to the honour of

Empire, Of their kindness to me I can- the British

The President and Congress of not speak because I have never which we could neither hope nor

the United States, having, newly sought it or dreamt of and deserve in this hard war.

it

"We shall do our best to meet fortified themselves by talking" can never deserve it.

"MILITARY ACTIVITY OR MAIN OF THE · RIDICULOUS them and fight them wherever with their electors, have solemnly

CONTEMPTIBLE.. "I only assure you that I and MISCALCULATIONS CAN BE AND

THE they go, but there is one thing pledged their aid to Britain in my colleagues or comrades rather, REDEEMED, THE FORTUNES WHIPPED JACKAL, MUSSO which is certain, there is one thing this war because they deem our for that is what they are, will toll OF WAR ARE FICKLE AND LINI, WHO TO SAVE HIS OWN which rises out of the vast welter cause just and because they know with every scrap of life and CHANGE, BUT AN ACT OF SKIN, HAS MADE ALL ITALY which is sure and which none in their own interests and safety would be endangered if we were strength according to the life that SHAME WOULD DEPRIVE US A VASSAL STATE TO HITLER, his senses can mistake.. is franted to us not to fail these OF THE RESPECT WE NOW EN-COMES FRISKING UP AT THE

they are taxing th THROUGHOUT ·· THE SIDE OF THE GERMAN TIGER

themasives re-WORLD AND WOULD SAP THE WITH YELPS NOT ONLY OF

heavily. They have. -paired VITALS OF OUR STRENGTH APPETITE — THAT COULD BEI'

5. (Continued on Page 3)

people or be wholly unworthy of JOY their faithful and generous gard...

Conging cannot in the fetyrone to

avenging justice in the East, the Middle East or the Far East. In order to win this twar ho: mustda