GREAT MILITARY FEAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1939, Page 7

GREAT MILITARY FEAT

TRANSPORT OF BRITISH ARMY. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] (Received October 14, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY. October 13. Mr. Hore Belisha (Minister of War) revealed that a French military expert described the transportation of tlte British Expeditionary Force to France, without a. single accident, as one of the greatest military feats, and the first victory for the Allies in the war. Mr. Hore Belisha said: “It is an achievement about which not only the Germans, but the French, were ignorant.” Mr Hore-Belisha stated that Germany was massing troops on the Western Front, but we Avere ready for and confident of any eventuality. The condition of the British Expeditionary Force was magnificent. RANKS OPEN TO ALIENS. Regarding (he question of the many aliens in Britain who are anxious to join the British Army, Mr. Hore Belisha said: “Aliens in the United Kingdom can join the British Army. Any person resident in the United Kingdom can volunteer for service in the Army.’ When the classes are called up, we shall be glad to see in those classes any foreign resident in Britain who desires to be called up, if he is within the age limits. In that respect they will be treated exactly the same as British subjects. The door is open to all subjects who are naturally subject to the control of the Home Office. While we have no restrictions on nationality, we are not contemplating forming any Foreign Legion, such as exists in France for Poles and Czechs. In this war, we have abolished all distinction in the army. It is now one army.”