Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1940. MR CHURCHILL SPEAKS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 226, 22 August 1940, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1940. MR CHURCHILL SPEAKS.

A striking contrast is afforded between the recent arrogant diatribe of Germany’s Fuehrer and the brilliant speech delivered-to the House of Commons on Tuesday by the Prime Minister (Mr Winston Churchill). At no point in his long harangue to the Reichstag—not a free assembly of the people but one chosen by the Nazi system of giving everything to its own party —did Hitler depart from his customary mixture of lies, boasting, and '• arrogant words. Mr Churchill on the other hand clearly and with sober words pointed the way to the British people, drew striking parallels between this war and the last, measured the gains without in any way concealing the losses, paid tributes where due —particularly to the Air Force—and uttered a note of confidence that rings with the sincerity Hitler has no power to express. It was a speech that will live long; statesmanship was never absent from a single passage, and the historian in the man many times found expression in facts wliose accuracy none can deny. The free world has been quick to applaud Mr Churchill and to evaluate liis words, regarding them as a correct estimate and the confidence as well justified.. It has never been Mr Churchill’s part to conceal the magnitude of any disaster. A “cataract has poured upon the Allies since his Government was formed in May.” But that does not daunt his vigorous spirit, icr in spite of wlmt has happened “we stand erect, sure of ourselves, masters of our fate, and with the conviction of final victory burning uquencliable in our hearts. The reason for this he made clear —we have rearmed and rebuilt our armies; a mighty mass of munitions has safely been “ferried across the Atlantic”; the output of our own factories has proceeded as men have never worked before; a vast army is ready for what lies before a Britain bristling against invaders from sea or air: the Navy is stronger than ever, and from the United States perhaps will come those “timely reinforcements to bridge the gap between the peace flotillas of 1939 and the war flotillas of 1941” ; at sea the enemy is held in check; our mercantile marine goes on its way laro-er than a year ago, and we have more food than thenmighty achievements all.

Such is~the record of an Empire that stands alone the last bastion between the evils of totalitarian rule and the joys of Democracy. The enemy is “sprawled across Europe,” but his cherished hour of victory is not yet and Britain will dash the cup from his lips, for she is “resolutely and methodically preparing herself for the campaigns of next year and the year after 1 .” Early in June Mr Churchill declared the manner of warfare the Empire has resolved against tyranny in the words

“if necessary for, years, i if necessary alone.” The need came more quickly than some , had thought possible if 'even at all. And today the Empire is fulfilling the proud declaration then uttered: “We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air; we shall defend our island whatever the cost may be; we shall never surrender.” Mr Churchill has brilliantly told of this growing strength and uttered words of confidence that must inspire everyone, especially when the time comes as it must for the “offensive springs” now being slowly compressed to be loosened in the final smashing offensive.