BRITAIN AND WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1942, Page 5

BRITAIN AND WAR

MR. CHURCHILL’S LEADERSHIP COMMONS DEBATE EFFECT (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, May 21. Viewing the recent House of ‘Commons war debate retrospectively, there is little reason to suppose that the Government or Mr. Churchill will be affected by the criticism. Indeed, it is probably no over-statement to say that the public generally were somewhat surprised at the criticism, believing that the time is not suited for further talk, but for vigorous action, which action 6 it expects, and in fact demands. The most notable thing that the debate revealed was a change in the attitude of Mr. Churchill’s critics, who, hitherto, had criticised the Government, but not Mr. Churchill, but n&w they attacked him directly. It was somewhat difficult not to get the impression that the criticism was not altogether free from the atmosphere of personalities, for which reason it can be expected that criticism of Mr. Churchill will probably be renewed from time to time. One of the chief points of discontent with this group of critics is that they think that Mr. Churchill wields too much power, and also too heavily influences his associates —views which, apparently, fail to impress those associates. It is useful to considei’ the debate against the background of what Mr. Attlee termed “something of a pause” in the present war position, in which there still is heartburning regarding Singapore, and more recently, Burma, in respect of which there continues to be controversy regarding the supreme direction of strategy linked with it. It is felt that although the critics were uneasy as to Mr. Churchill’s strategic judgment, they still have not produced any real evidence to discredit it. It is probably true that some are still influenced by the criticism of Mr. Churchill before the war, that he “lacked judgment”; but he was not far wrong concerning Nazi ambitions. Whatever, the feeling among these Parliamentary critics, it is certain that Mr. Churchill has been not displaced as the national leader in the minds of the rank and file of the people.

WOMEN IN INDUSTRIES.

RUGBY, May 21

The President of the Board of Education (Mr. Butler), speaking in London, said that more than 1,500,000 women had been added to those employed in munitions and other vital industries since the beginning of the war, when more than 4,000,000 were employed. There were about 9,000,000 children to be cared for, mainly in the homes of their parents. “The contribution of women to the national effort has been remarkable, and is going to increase,” said Mr. Butler. He also expressed the opinion that the collective care and feeding of children and women working would last after the war. The Minister for Labour (Mr. Bevin) said to-day that of the 3.3,000,000 people between the ages ol 14 and 65 in the United Kingdom, 22,000,000 were serving in the armed forces, in the civil defence forces, or in industries. Another 2,000,000 were doing part-time or unpaid work that was directly serving the war effort.

GAS REMEDIES

LONDON, May 22

“War gases, their nature, effects and treatment,” is the title of a new penny folder, issued by the Ministry of Home Security. The folder sets out clearly in tabulated form the descriptions of various war gases, characteristic smells, such as garlic, pear drops, floor polish, or geranium, by which they can be recognised, and the effect of each gas on the human body. There are simple instructions for first aid treatment in each case. The chart is intended as instruction for the general public, as well as for official use by members of the Civil Defence Services.

BRITAIN’S PARATROOPS.

THRILLS FOR ROYALTIES

RUGBY, May 22

Britain has a new army of the air, with paratroops, glider pilots, and men trained to go into instant action, from aircraft, states an Agency war correspondent. These picked warriors of the air are marked with three distinctive badges, plum coloured beret, “Airborne” on the shoulder, and blue and a white badge, showing Be'llerophon, “destroyer of monsters,” mounting a Pegasus winged horse. The airborne troops showed their skill to the King and Queen during a full day’s visit. All are volunteers, and represent half the famous regiments in Britain. The King and Queen inspected the manifold equipment, much of which is still secret, and watched men at special training. During twenty minutes packed with thrills, Their Majesties saw paratroops, gliders and aircraft co-operat-ing in a daylight attack on an airfield. Fighter planes roared in low to wipe out the enemy aircraft on the ground, passing 50 feet above the Royal party. Then Blenheims laid a smoke screen, which blotted out everything, as the Whitneys came over, each dropping ten paratroops, to fill the air with parachutes of different colours. Under the smoke screen, men rushed to their weapons, dropped in separate containers, and hurried into the attack. While they were mopping up, the gliders, towed by aircraft, appeared with a composite air landing company. All made perfect landings. The troops leapt from the machines to complete the capture eight minutes from the start. GUARDS' MANOEUVRES LONDON. May 21. The King and Queen spent the day watching tank manoeuvres carried out by the Guards’ armoured division. This was made up of crack regiments of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Welsh, and Irish Guards, who showed that they could use the mechanised equipment with all their usual skill and dash. Queen Mary made her first wartime appearance with the King and Queen. Their Majesties saw flying men who are doing a course with the Guards to familiarise themselves with tanks, and to improve Army-Air Force cooperation.