The Gisborne Times (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 17, 1940 MR CHURCHILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1940, Page 4

The Gisborne Times (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER. 17, 1940 MR CHURCHILL.

Mu Winston Citukchitl, who is leading the Empire in this great crisis of its long hisfory ; is u-'inau or parts. He has had wide and intimate experience as an author, a statesman and a soldier. He has listed the details oi' war and desperate fighting, and has been in the hurly burly of great political issues. He knows his Britain, and such a man lo appear at such a time as the present, is a most fortunate circumstance. The hour of destiny has struck, and the man after long years of training in great emergencies, appears on the scene. His varied career has been made by deeds of action. He has been prepared to ‘face perils and dangers to attain his ambition as a free lance Englishman anxious to learn all tin re is to learn of war in foreign places, and the rights of the issues, in the field of literature he was able to submerge himself from outside affairs, and identify himself completely with the writing of the task he had set himself. When in a time of temporary eclipse in the political arena, he turned to .the writing of the life of his great ancestor, Marlborough, lie performed a new duty, and has given a life story of a great figure, who must in part at least, have been a pattern for Winston Churchill. His ability to discharge from Jiis mind the subjects which lor the time had engaged his attention, and concentrate on a new subject quite distinct from the groove of thought lie had been pursuing, indicated one of the great qualities of the man. So it is to-day, when by common consent ho is chosen as leader, he looked around, and drew to his side and councils, fresh faces and names of men who led in other spheres of the national life, but whom lie picked were the men for the task ahead—mice again his judgment was right, and the fruits of it are shown in the unity of the nation and the willingness to “go to it,” as a whole in great effort for victory. To-day, Mr Churchill is a live figure, leading the nation, and a symbol of its resoluteness of spirit to accomplish the task ahead of it. As the man destined to shape and guide the national policy, lie has taken up the task with supreme confidence, that once united in the great effort, all things were possible. His addresses to the nation are inspiring efforts, instilling hope and confidence in the people, and confounding the enemy by the resolute spirit displaced. There was the tendency to disparage the British effort in this war, as in the last when the Kaiser east reflections on “the contemptible army,” but now. as then, those conditions were disabused, and the enemy realises and in fact experit »ces, the great strength, and the strong determination to win through. The British spirit of never say die. is rampant, and is being realised in enemy quarters, seriously undermining the high hopes for an early victory, and instead creating alarm and fear that the tables are to be turned, for in some enemy quarters defeat is being scented already. So, m the leadership of Mr Churchill there has been a guiding hand stimulating resistance aud bringing it to the full flower of its

strength as the climax approaches—with the/ people -unafraid.