EMPIRE’S CAMPAIGN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 225, 21 August 1940, Page 8

EMPIRE’S CAMPAIGN

grounds for confidence. ALR CHURCHILL’S FAITH, (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received August 21, 1.15 p.m. LONDON. Aug. 20. The House of Commons was crowded to hear Air Churchill's statement -on the progress of the war. The occupants of the diplomatic galleries included the American, Brazilian, Argentine. Egyp* tion, Russian, and Spanish Ambassadors. » Mr Churchill declared: “The dangers we face are still enormous, but so are our advantages and resources 1 The people are entitled to know there are solid grounds for the Government’s confidence, also that we have good reason to believe ourselves capable of continuing the war, if necessary alone, if necessary for years.” Referring to Somaliland, Mr Churchill said that,* even though metropolitan France had been temporarily overrun there was no reason why the French Navy and substantial parts of the French Army and the French Empire overseas should not have continued the struggle on our side. Franco might have remained one of the great combatants in the struggle, and would have preserved the continuity of her life, and the French Empire might have advanced with the British Empire to rescue the independence and integrity of the French Motherland. Most of the other countries the Germans had overrun had . persevered valiantly and faithfully Air Churchill said the decision to defend Somaliland, arrived at before the war, was changed when France gave in. The small British force, con.sisting of a few battalions and a few guns, had been attacked by all the Italian troops, amounting to nearly two divisions, which had previously faced French Jibuti. LARGER OPERATIONS.

“It was right to withdraw our troops virtually intact for action elsewhere,’ Mr Churchill added. “Far larger operations, no doubt, impend ill the Middle East theatre. I will certainly not attempt to discuss or prophesy about their probable course. We have large armies and many means of reinforcing them. “We have complete command of tbo •ea in the Eastern Mediterranean and we intend to do our best to give a good account of ourselves, and discharge faithfully and resolutely all our obligations and duties.’’ PROMISE OF VICTORY. The Daily Alail says : Our own and other nations, including our enemies, will recognise in Mr Churchill’s speech a transition from the days of anxiety to days of confidence. It rings with an authentic promise of assault and victory.