CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 238, 5 September 1940, Page 8

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

DOMINION TROOPS KEEN. AAVAITING THE STORM. AA'riting to his parents, Major and Mrs J. T. Bosworth, of Palmerston North, Private C. J. Bosworth. a member of the Second Echelon, states that when the echelon arrived in England there was a tense atmosphere noticeable, like that before a thunderstorm breaks. When the storm broke, he was afraid, it would be terrible. Hitler must strike soon, and it was obvious that it must be at England, but the story ivotild he different from that of the events in France. AVhatever the British lacked in training and experience, they would never run away as some of the French did, Private .Bosworth adds. British soldiers had made a fine performance in France, according to Canadians who arrived just in time to see the defeat. The British held on until it was useless to stay longer, as the Belgians had let them down and witn the French on the run their only chance was to leave. It was commonly said that the Allied generals should have known the position better, as they knew w'hat would happen after the experience of Poland.

AH the New Zealand troops were keen to enter into battle. Air raids occurred on most nights.the letter continues, but so far flic New Zealanders had been left alone, and although they could hear the anti-aircraft guns in the distance, just turned over and went to sleep. Private Bosworth was in a town one Saturday when a raid occurred in daylight. There was no sound of an aeroplane until a crash occurred in the next street, then another, and another. The air could be felt to shake as the bombs exploded. He and his companions wore not alarmed, and were suddenly surprised to sec the people making, for cover. They afterwards went round to see the damage. One bomb had hit. a telephone box and one person who had been using it had been killed.