Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1943. TWO ANNIVERSARIES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 April 1943, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1943. TWO ANNIVERSARIES.

INTERESTING anniversaries of the week 1 included the 25th birthday of the R.A.F., and the 60th birthday of the Salvation Army in New Zealand. The Dominion has cause for gratitude to both Forces, as their respective efforts have added to the security and social betterment of the country, to a degree perhaps not fully realised. Each Force is engaged in a special Avar of its. own, and if the objectives differ, there is much in common Avhere courage, perseverance, and ideals are concerned. The founders of each organisation laid splendid foundations, upon which have been built, not -without difficulty, edifices which appear to be permanent.

A general outline of the history of the R.A.F. has previously been published, and most people are familiar now, with the marvellous development of the R.A.F. since the Avar started. In 1939, the R.A.F. had quality but was vastly outnumbered by the Luftwaffe. To-day, this numerical deficiency has been overcome, and no question arises about the R.A.F. superiority in the air worldwide. With the aid of the Americans and other allies, this superiority will soon become mastery, after which the end of the war should be in sight. The R.A.F. has paid a terrific price for its present position, and thousands of lives of brave young men have been sacrificed to preserve Empire liberties. The R.A.F. has had many Overseas recruits, and it is gratifying to New Zealand that so many honours have been won by the airmen sent from these shores. Zeal to acknowledge the services by the R.A.F. should not permit the equally important work of the seamen and giound troops to be belittled. Some air experts comment as if nothing matters but the R.A.F., but the airmen themselves do not accept this exaggerated estimate. It is in the tradition of the R.A.F. that it should make fun even of its motto, “Per ardua ad astra.” Over the door of a commanding officer’s office there may be seen the notice: “Per flak ad nauseam.” As is generally known, “flak” is the abbreviation, in common German form, of the military expression “Flieger-abwehr-kanone” (anti-aircraft gun). The airmen daily attempt difficult tasks, and have their failures as well as successes. What can be truly said is that as a Force, the airmen are putting their full weight in the global war, and will be entitled to a full share of the credit when final victory is won.

The Salvation Army is more connected with peace than war, and in New Zealand, as in many other countries, has won many victories in its campaigns against sin and social sorrows. Its methods are mainly its own, and do not appeal to all, but there is little doubt of the effectiveness. This Army was despised and rejected in its early days, but fought the good fight until worldwide respect was attained. Every country has benefited from its operations, and the comfortable orthodox have been aroused to a greater sense of responsibility to the less fortunate. Mistakes and extravagances have not been avoided, but the Salvation Army has not only deserved success, it has achieved it. It is to be hoped that the next 60 years of the Army’s work in New Zealand will be as fruitful as in the past similar period.