KING’S MESSAGES

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1939, Page 8

KING’S MESSAGES

To The Forces CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ABILITY. (Received September 5, 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, September 4. The King has sent the. <■ following message to the Navy: “Once again, the Royal Navy has assumed the protection of the Empire on the sea of the world, and I would like to assure you of my conviction that, whatever the future has in Store, its conduct and courage will bring added lustre to its long history. It was my high privilege to see service with them when they were last on active service. My thoughts will always be with them now.” (Received September 5, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, September 5.' ’ The King in a message to the Army said: “In all its long and glorious history, the British Army has never been called to take the field for a cause more just than that which is our’s to-day. It has never entered a campaign of which the issues were more grave and more vital for the future of our race, indeed of all civilisation. I know well you will realise what is at stake, and that in the struggle ahead, every man in \my armies will play his part with gallant devotion. It is my earnest prayer that God have you in his keeping and grant success to your arms.” Mr Hore Belisha (Minister of War) has replied “on behalf of every soldier of whatever rank.” In a message to the Royal Air Force His Majesty said: “The Royal Ab Force has behind it a tradition no less inspiring than those of the older services. and in the campaign which we are compelled to undertake, you will assume responsibilities far greater than those your service had to shoulder in the last war, one of the gravest of which will be the safeguarding of these Islands from the menace of the air. I assure all rnaks of the Air Force of my supreme confidence in their skill, courage and ability, to meet whatever calls may be made on them.”

ii France’s Reasons s FOR GOING TO WAR. PARIS, September 4. An official journal publishes the text of a French note to foreign Pow-' ers, advising the state of war. It says: The German Government, in con- . tempt of methods of peacefulsetI tlement of differences, whereto it unJ drtook to have recourse, and in conp tempt to appeals for free discussion and mediation authoritatively addressed to it, committed against. Poland on September 1, an act of aggression. this act of aggression faced the French Republic with obligations of assistance to Poland, resulting from treaties known to Germany. The final Anglo-French attempts to maintain s peace met with a German refusal, con. • sequently as a result of German : gression against Poland, a state of war i exists between France and Germany, ’ as from 5 p.m. on September 2. CASE FOR GERMANY. BRITISH PROFESSOR’S BOOK. LONDON, August 19. Widespread' distribution in England of Professor A. P. Laurie’s book "The Case for Germany,” was planned by the International Publishing Company of Berlin, associated with the Nazi Propaganda Ministry. Professor Laurie is a member of the council of The Link, the organisation which Sir Samuel Hoare in the House of Commons described as being used as an instrument of the German propaganda service. He stated money had been received from Germany by one of the active organisers. The council of The Link; in reply, ’ said that the statement that The Link, was an instrument of German propaganda was absurd. Admiral Sir Barry Domville, the chairman, added: “I dare say somebody' has received money.. I cannot tell. The Link is financed entirely by its own members.” Professor Laurie stated in regard to his book that after having offered it to English publishers, who refused to print it, he sold it for a lump sum to a German firm of publishers. The preface to the bodk is written by Sir Barry Domville. “I have no financial interest whatever in the sale of my book, and I shall receive no royalties," he added, “but I wrote it to be read, and 1 hope many thousands will read ’ it in this country.” ; '