BUSINESS AS USUAL

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 12

BUSINESS AS USUAL

CABBIES ON UNDER DIFFICULTIES HINDRANCE OF NAZI BOMBING A slight insight into the conditions in England under the “ blitzkrieg,” especially insofar as they affect busi ness, is contained in a letter from a business house to its Dunedin agents. The watchword of commerce appai entiy, is “ carry on,” despite the nightly bombing raids by the Nazis. . The writer of the letter, ordinarily located in London, sends a temporary address in the country where there are better prospects of carrying on with, the ordered routine work. The shift was made necessary by the damage caused in the City, the writer states, but the Nazis, despite their insane fury, were not able to stand up against the R.A.F. boys in daylight. “ But in the dark hours, flying at 25,000 ft, we cannot find them, so thai our fighters can, in the words of Churchill, “ claw them down,” the writer continues. “ Thwarted in their vicious aims, they decided they will set fire to the city during the hours of darkness.” The writer goes on to refer to the “ nuisance raiding ” and to the unfortunate death of civilians, especially one voung girl in his employ. “ As one who did his bit in the last war, 1 am not horrified at a comrade in arms being killed, for 1 have seen many such cases . . . but somehow, the horror of killing women and children, comes right home when a harmless young girl in the full bloom of youth is murdered—for murder it is—by these maniacs. “ There have been many casualties among civilians this week-end, but that is not winning the war, and I can give you my personal assurance that it is just making all of us here more determined than ever that this Nazi tyranny, this attempt at world domination, is going to be, and must be, crushed once and for all. Everyone feels more bitter than ever—and more determined than ever,” the letter continued. “ So if you should meet any lukewarm New Zealanders (I can hardly imagine there are many), please just remember this youngster and the bomb that fell alongside the ' shelter and finished a life which would have been useful. ...”

The difficulties in the conducting of business were again referred to, the writer stating he would carry on at the new address so long as it was left standing, but if needs be would shift again. “ But we have reason to think it will all be over quickly now—that this is the last mad throw of the maniac,” the letter continued. 11 We know they are beaten, and so do they, but they are trying yet once more the underhanded, dirty trick of a desperate attempt to strike terror into the hearts of little girls and babies. That, of course, is a splendid game, much better than fighting it out in the air with a 100 per cent. Spitfire pilot with eight guns and a machine which enables him to beat them all the time!”

An air raid warning was sounded, to be followed by the all clear, as the letter was being dictated. It concludes : “ Send all the boys you can from New Zealand to help finish this job off, and to give these madmen the hell which they deserve.”