WHAT KIND OF WAR?

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1939, Page 3

WHAT KIND OF WAR?

(By A. L. Morton.] Under the above title the Conservative Evening Standard discusses the profound issues raised by this war. Its editorial undoubtedly reflects the best of the nation’s opinion at this grave commencement of the conflict. It writes: “What kind of war is this? We ask it seriously. The nation is puzzled. It expected war to mean an immediate clash of arms, and was prepared to bear a fierce assault on London. Instead there is little news from the Western Front, while London has been spared anything worse than a “raid” due to a wrong telephone call in Sir John Anderson’s department. Nineteen out of twenty persons ask, therefore, this question: “Are we making as decisive an attack on Nazism as our strength allows?’ Clearly, it is not possible that Hq; nation should be told all. Yet this question persists and clamours for an answer . . .

“The resolve of the British people will remain cool and inflexible until every acre of Polish soil is restored to Polish rule and Hitlerism and all its works is exiled to the oblivion cf some second Doorn. It is from this resolution that the British people now demand two measures: (1) the most rigorous prosecution of the war possible: (2) the most determined effort to root out all those who would prevent our home fortress from being made impregnable.” That is well said. It is typical of a great flood of determination that has surged up through the length • and breadth of our land in the last ten days. The voice of the “appeasers” is silenced. Not even Marshal Goering’s seductive coos over the radio, not all the activity of “neutral” diplomats and second-string agents have had .the least effect on this mood. The line forecast in these columns many times in the last three months has been duly followed by Hitler. He intends to smash through the Poles, while standing on the defensive in the West; and then to offer an armistice while he consolidates his grip on all East Europe. Fervent protests of horror at this suggestion are now pouring from the lips and pens of former appeasement protagonists.