"Hail Churchill" Say The Dutch

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13233, 8 January 1941, Page 8

"Hail Churchill" Say The Dutch

The Dutch and British, for more than six months, have been comrades in arms against the Germans. But how closely are the Dutch folk in the Netherlands Fast Indies united by sentimental ties to the British? The question was in my mind when I tame here, and on the third day of my stay it was unexpectedly answered. I stood with a Dutch friend beiore the temporary Cenotaph erected at a patriotic exhibition. On it were inscribed the names of unforgotten towns in conquered Holland. To the right was a life-size portrait of Queen .Wilhelmina, and to the left a life-size portrait of King George VI.

Fresh flowers, bought from pretty girls, were strewn at the base of each Royal likeness. "At first," my Dutch friend explained, "the flowers were meant for the Cenotaph. But the Dutch people put many in front of your King. And British people, when they come here, offer flowers to our Queen." An American journalist. back from Bandoeng, tells me that he heard several hundreds of people there sing "God Save the King" in a manner that showed they were thoroughly familiar with the words. Churchill Popular. Anyone, who goes to the talkies in Batavia will hear loud applause whenever Mr Winston Churchill appears on the screen.

For* years these islands were systematically "worked" by the Germans in the interests of Germany and Hitler. The German population here was 7000 or SOOO strong. The Nazi element was aggressive and influential, owing, in part, to the support which it obtained from occasional Dutchmen of importance or wealth. The Germans had penetrated into the public services and were masters of two important harbours. Germans even held appointments relating to the fighting services. When war broke out in Europe, the Nazis watched the local Press with hawk-like eyes for the least evidence of unneutrality. Since the Dutch desired to give no offence, the British had rather a thin time, trying to get their case before the Indies public.

There is not the slightest doubt that the Germans in the islands looked forward to the day when they would play Fifth Column roles, together with such Dutchmen as they could win to their side.

Britons here are convinced that they aimed at an eventual coup and even believe that the Germans had "death lists" ready for use at the right moment.

The Germans in Batavia issued free news in the streets, presenting their point of view to as many readers as were reached by all the local papers combined. The Nazi newssheet was ably edited and from the British side had practically no opposition.

I British propaganda here in the i first part of the war was in the hands of one able and tireless man who only now has a Dutch assistant. He was handicapped by the fact that the Dutch. Press was mostly shy of pro-British publicity and by the fact that his only direct vehicle was a multigraphed sheet, laboriously produced at the British Consul-Gen-eral's office. When Showdown Came. The Dutch East Indies' authorities and people had to tolerate a great deal from the Germans who had promoted a fully-fledged National Socialist movement.

But the Dutch officials were on the alert to a degree which the Germans and their sympathisers could hardly have suspected. When Hitler burst into Holland something happened here before the invasion was announced. It was. this: The single word "Berlin" was flashed to key points throughout, the archipelago. Immediately a well-planned roundup of Germans and pro-Germans was carried out with lightning speed.

When the show-down came, it was evident that the removal of ail restraints on pro-British manifestations was only what most of the people had heen waiting for. Last month there was a torchlight demonstration, in which the Burgomaster and citizens of Batavia, together with representatives of the armed forces, marched to the home of the British Consul-General. Inscribed on the banners which they carried were such mottoes as "Hail, Churchill." "Spitfire A Day -Keeps Hitler Away." Native Aid. Tc-day I learned that all the colored boys employed by the leading

hotel in Batavia arc regular enrolled subscribers to the Spitfire Funds. which Britons here bare organised in order to buy Spitfires for the R.A.F. At first the organisers aimed at gathering subscriptions merely from the handful of Britons living in these islands. The Dutch people j heard about it and insisted on subj scribing. I They gave so freely that, in compliment to them the British organisers joined hands with those Dutchmen who were building up the Prince Bernhard Fund —consisting of moneys to be used in war at the j discretion of Prince Bernhard, the husband of Princess Juliana. The Bernhard Fund now acts as a remitting agent for the Spitfire Fund. The Spitfire Fund here has already furnished its first twelve machines at £SOOO each. For the past three weeks it has been on the basis of regular subscription and its assured income stands at £ISOO a month. Men who are running the show say that this is only a begininng. Everywhere you find the people wearing little aeroplane badges which signify that they are regular subscribers, or that they have brought in with them so many regular subscribers. There is a system of "ranks" beginning with a "flier," and rising to "flying officer," and so on, according to one's success in "recruiting" for the fund. When Holland capitulated, the Dutch in the Indies, had what they called the Wilhelmina Fund ready to send home. Since it could not be applied to its original purpose, the money was given outright to Britain to enable her to buy forty Spitfires and eighteen Lockheed Hudson bombers. The bitterness of feeling here against Germans is very great. So many of the people have relatives and friends in Holland, and can learn nothing of their fate. They say: "There is only one thing to do. We must defeat Hitler. That is our people's only chance, and we look to Britain to help us." Hostages to Hitler A prominent man in Batavia whose family in Holland are hostages to

Hitler, is doing a great work for Holland and Britain. One thinks, as one hears him in broadcast talks express his hatred and contempt for Germany, what it must cost him to speak so freely. As for the non-Dutch population, a little story of the days hnmedi&Leily following Holland's fall deserves there is a well-known memorial to pubic monument as yet in Batavia relating to the present war. But there is a well-knowkn memorial to a Dutch general named Micheiisen. who fought a colonial campaign about the turn of the century. To this site some natives brought portraits of Queen Wilhelmina and"floral tributes. It was their way of showing what they felt.