CALM CONFIDENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 249, 29 July 1940, Page 5

CALM CONFIDENCE

SPIRIT OF BRITISH PEOPLE.

TRAiTS REVEALED BY RAIDS.

“GOOD-NEIGHBOURLINESS.”

‘United Press Association—Copyright * (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, July 28: Localities in Britain which have had air raids are still quite a small part of / the whole country, but in regions most frequently mentioned in the Ministry of Homo Security announcements there are a few places where during the last six weeks’ siren warnings, the drone of engines, gunfire and occasional bombs become very familiar. Experience in these areas of the people’s calmness, patience, irrepressible goodhumour and kindliness to each other loaves no doubt how the rest of Britain will behave when its turn comes or how the nation as a whole wilt stand up to the air menace.

Whenever Hitler’s “travellers” have called with samples of the “luftwaffe’s” might and menace, determination ' to liberate the world from domination by terrorism may be a little more- grim than elsewhere, hut there is no ■ despondency. The inhabitants are showing great adaptability and engenuity in overcoming inconvenience and disturbances of normal routine caused by tho regularly-repeated warnings and raids. To avoid-fatigue due to interrupted rest, many people have changed their sleeping hours. Others sleep in. shelters. In many streets of small houses, common shelters have been erected by the authorities and where the warnings are almost a nightly occurrence neighbourliness is joined by something of a picnic spirit. Wives take it in turn to provide hot drinks. Men arrange games, and concerts are provided by the young people, adjacent - shelters ; sometimes exchanging the more successful .-.‘(artistes” whose prospective “appearance’’ is duly “billed” the previous day. Such is the resilience of : the spirit with which enemy raids in Britain have been met so far.—British Official Wireless.