ATTACK ON BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1940, Page 7

ATTACK ON BRITAIN

“WITHIN FEW DAYS”

GAYDA’S PREDICTION

[by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

(Recd. July 16 10.15 a.m.) ROME, July 15

Signor Gayda says that an Axis attack on England will occur within a few days. U A final attack against England in the North Sea and the Atlantic is being prepared, while Italy keeps far from Britain the precious British and Imperial Forces. In a very few days, the preparations will be completed, and England will be forced to choose submission to Europe’s new forces, or to undergo a most-violent war.” PREMATURE PROGRAMME (Recd. July 16, 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 15. Neutrals arriving at the German frontier from Berlin, declare that Hitler has chosen July 27 for a triumphal entry into Berlin, after the occupation of London. Many windows along the processional route are reported to be already let.

LONDON AS “OPEN CITY.”

(Received July 16, 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 15.

“The Times’s” correspondent on the German frontier says: The spokesman in Berlin declared that Mr. Churchill expressly stated that every house and street in London would be defended to the last; therefore, it is impossible to consider London an open city. The German wireless stated that Mr Churchill had not heeded the fate of Warsaw, and Rotterdam. “Unfortunately, Londoners, who will become the victims of -amateur strategy, cannot find out for themselves what terrible distress the senseless defence of a large city causes.” FALSE LULL HITLER’S TACTICS EXPOSED

(Recd. July 16, 1.40 p.m.). LONDON, July 15

“The Times” says: Because Hitler seems to be devoting attention to the “new Europe,” some people in Britain talk as if he is not simultaneously preparing for an assault against this country. This is exactly what the Gorman propagandists want them to say. It is always Hitler’s way to preface an attack by a false lull. The R.A.F. communiques afford the best proof that the lull is merely false. It is not accident, or mere caprice, that British airmen are steadily bombing small shipping in the mouths of the German and Dutch rivers and canals. These targets, also the docks, petrol stores, aerodromes, and marshalling yards, are well-chosen, on the basis of the most exact evidence.

After the collapse of France, the Germans needed some time to reorganise the forces for an attack against Britain. Goering is reported to have asked Hitler to give the Air Force a slight respite for repairs and replenishments, and also to rest as many men as possible. The German propagandists are trying to make the respite appear an indefinite lull, and are also spreading a report that Hitler is too clever to try to invade Britain. This report conflicts not only with Hitler’s character, but his known preparations across the Channel and North Sea. Because he knows something of Britain’s strength, Hitler has held back his forces to reorganise better. Hitler wishes to keep southeastern Europe quiet, and draw therefrom all possible resources of food and raw material. Hitler hopes thereby, to leave Germany’s hands free to exploit France, and no less free to develop the attack on Britain. LABOUR AND PEACE

LONDON, July 15

Trade Union leaders addressing the Unions’ annual meetings, vigorously denounced the holding of peace talks till Fascism had been vanquished. Mr. Lawther (Miners’ President), in his presidential address to the Mine-workers’ Federation, said: “We must either conquer force and Fascism, or go down to the level of abject slavery.” He urged the Government to exercise the same measures against “Quislings” and “fifth columnists,” who should be called traitors, as were employed by their enemies abroad... Mr. E. W. Bussey, the president, of the Electrical Trades Union, said. “We believe in peace. We shall work for peace. But if peace means serf - dom, there can be no peace for us.”

RUGBY, July 15. The determination of British miners to fight totalitarianism was reaffirmed by their President, Mr Will Lawther, in an address at the annual conference of the Mine-Workers Federation, held at Blackpool. “More than ever are we convinced,” he said, “that, in the best national interests, our counterparts of M. Laval and Marshal Petain should be known, not as Fifth Columnists, but, as Mr Attlee suggested in a recent broadcast, as traitors. When everything that made Britain a force in democratic leadership is at stake, the same measures should be taken against any Quislings as are employed against our enemies abroad.” Labour had dealt with such people in its own ranks, and unhesitatingly denounced the disrupting influences of those who blindly accepted the political doctrines prepared for them in anothei country.' The word “defeat” must be expunged from our war-time language. Victory was our aim, and iwe must do our all to achieve it.

t MARGATE IN WAR-TIME.

LONDON, July 15.

The author, Mr J. B. Priestley, gave a broadcast description of a visit to Margate, the famous south-east coast resort, which has normally been overflowing with holiday-makers. He told how the aspect of the countryside changed strangely during his journey to the coast. He related how he saw Bren guns in cornfields, also camouflaged cows under trees, concealing tanks. He told how the principal crop appeared to be barbed wire.

Then when he reached Margate, he stood alone on a deserted seafront. For miles along he gazed at empty benches. All of the hotels and boardinghouses were empty. The windows were boarded.. He concluded: “No one would wish it otherwise, until the fight for freedom has been won.”