"TYPICALLY BRITISH"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 110, 11 May 1943, Page 3

"TYPICALLY BRITISH"

Average Man's Reactions To Reverse And Victory N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, May 10. The reactions of the average man in the street on the Tunisian victories have been interesting to observe. They have been what might be called "typically British." Deep pleasure is felt everywhere, yet there has been surprisingly little demonstration.

in fact, it Is not an exaggeration to say that the British public accepted the unexpectedly quick collapse of the Germans in much the same way as it accepted the news of Dunkirk." Then 8.8.C. announcers gave the "hard and heavy tidings" in matter-of-fact, unemotional voices, the newspapers "splashed" it and the people said to one another. "The news is bad," and the reply was, "Yes, isn't it?" There was never in the average man's mind the thought that Hitler could ever conquer Great Britain and everyone felt a glow of pride when Mr. Churchill so aptly described everyone's feelings. There has been an almost similar outward reception of the news to-day. Announcers give the news in the same calm, imperturbable voices, and the newspapers are filled with accounts and descriptions of the various phases of the fighting. You hear people saying, "The news is good," and the same old reply, "Yes, isn't it?" Yet beneath that reserve you know; there is deep pride as the conversation continues.

What Will Happen Next?

"I wonder what will happen now?" This is the background built on the same confidence that refused to admit defeat, but steadfastly believed that things come out all right in the end. In publichouses darts are probably plunked in dart-boards a little bit harder and everywhere, while people continue to talk about the weather, their gardens and domestic affairs, there is a subtle, brighter feeling as though the sun had suddenly come out from behind a dark cloud. Looking back on the past three years and a half, it is probably right to say that the British people have only been seriously annoyed or put out twice—first, when Norway fell; second, when Rommel raced towards El Alamein. On both occasions, it is felt that avoidable blunders had been made and that the nation would not stomach them.

Were Victories Expected?

I argued slightly to-day, with a South African journalist who expressed the opinion that this phlegmatic reception of victories was due to the recent surfeit of good news and that the public was complacent because it had expected the victories. This may be right, but I feel that the average man in the street is uncomplacent and that the people as a whole realise that if the last phase of the European war is before them it still remains one of the most dimcult periods, but that they will face up to it in the same quiet way. I remember being in Devon at New Year 1940, and hearing two farmers talking. " One said: "It has been a great year," and I thought of Greece Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and the blitz, and I was interested in what reply was coming. Then the Second farmer said: "Aye. It was a rare summer and has been a grand vear for the crops." It is that attitude of mind which is still the sheet anchor of the people to-day.