TALES OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1941, Page 6

TALES OF WAR

GALLANT BRITISHERS

AUSTRALIANS RETURN

INVASION ATTEMPTS

(By Trans-Tasman Air Mall—From "The

Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY. March 29

Graphic first-hand stories of a vain invasion attempt, of London under blitzkrieg, of devastating fire raids on English citier and of the Coventry horror, were told by 105 members of the A.I.F. invalided home from England, who arrived in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

The men' were members of the A.I.F. contingent stationed in England from June last year until February. Most of these men have now been transferred to the Middle East. A few received minor wounds during air raids in London, but the majority have been returned because of illness: They have been declared unfit for further active service.

The men brought back tales of heroism of those who are really fighting this war —the ordinary people of Britain. A corporal from Queensland, who has passed through the horrors of the Nazi bomb and fire raids over London, including the terrible September onslaught and the Christmas raids, declared: 'Tt is impossible to describe the courage of the people of England. I am an Australian, and proud of it. but I wonder whether Australians could take it like they are in London. I think they might squeal to the Government to have it stopped. The people of London are squealing, but their squeal is to let. Hitler have more and more of it. They will never quit. These people are having their homes blasted from around them. Yet, next morning you wall see them cooking their breakfast in the ruins. They don't know how to give up. The noise! It will take 12 months for us to get it out of our ~ars."

BRAVE WOMEN

"If it weren't for the women of England," said a private from Sydney, "there wouldn't be an England. They are the greatest people in the world. They are taking the brunt of it; the safest place is in the Army. Just before we left the Nazis dropped 20,000 incendiaries on London in one night. Before the raids were over kids five and six years of age were crouching in the gutters picking up the fish tails of the fire bombs, which they sold for sixpence each."

Others said Hitler had definitely made an attempt at invasion last September. Experts estimated that 60,000 of his troops had been involved, but the Navy and R.A.F. had met them as their barges were half-way across the Channel and the North Sea, and smashed them mercilessly, till those who were not blown to bits were forced to put back.

While digging trenches on the Essex coast they had seen German bodies washed up. Some said that it had been only a dress rehearsal. If that was all Hitler had thrown away many thousands of live:, in testing the combined strength of the R.A.F. and Navy guarding England's shores. There had been rumours that he had made later attempts. The soldiers said that they had been ordered to "stand to" five times for invasion.

The men said the small Anderson raid shelters were proving the most effective shelters.