GIFT AEROPLANES

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 52, 29 August 1940, Page 12

GIFT AEROPLANES

SUPPORT BRITAIN

AIR WAR FOR EMPIRE

The fund being raised to present! fighting planes to the Royal Air Force continues to evoke a remarkable response. It has undoubtedly appealed to the public sentiment as a means of proclaiming . comradeship with Britain in the air war. The war, at its present stage, is a war in the air and at sea. On the saa it is clear beyond question that our future is at stake. But it is equally true that the war in the air is a fight for the Empire, not for Britain alone, though Britain is at the moment bearing the brunt of the attack and doing most of the fighting. Britain is the heart, and the Nazis, in striking at the heart, are trying to kill the whole body. That the whole body may be strong and vigorous to overthrow Nazidom, it is of vital importance that the heart shall be kept strong and with unimpaired ability to fulfil its great task. The overseas Dominions and colonies have recognised this in its relation to the war in the air, by support of the Empire air-training scheme, by directing their resources wherever possible (as in Canada) to tne provision of aircraft, and by generous gifts for the purchase of machines. Though the gifts may not provide more planes when productive capacity... is already being kept at the peak, they will relieve Britain and the British people who are fighting, working, and suffering all the perils and discomforts of the air war from some of the strain j upon their resources. This is, after all, a little thing to do; but it is a little thing which means much to the people of Britain. It means that we are with them as far as we can be with them, that having sent, our young men to fight we also want to give our money to be used to provide machines. Our gift is sent in money, but it is translated into courage and morale, qualities the British people are displaying so conspicuously today and which we, even at this distance, can do a little to sustain.