Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1944 A WONDERFUL RESPONSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 121, 20 April 1944, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1944 A WONDERFUL RESPONSE.

A CABLEGRAM from London tllis week conveyed the most interesting and gratifying news that the Duke of Gloucester's Red Cross fund has reached £33,000,000. This is twice the total sum raised for a similar purpose in the last war, £16,500,000, when it was considered a remarkable feat that such an amount should have been secured by voluntary subscription. Towards the contribution of the £33,000,000 the whole nation has given its loyal support. Yet, at the outbreak of the war, when the fund was opened for the relief of suffering, there were men well versed in finance who doubted whether last war's feat could be repeated. They based their belief upon the breaking up of great fortunes and the heavy taxation imposed upon the nation. The people, however, have proved once again their responsiveness to a worthy appeal. The total of the last, war was surpassed long ago and in January it was reported that the fund 'stood at £30,000,000. With donations still being received at the rate of £1,000,000 a month, it was anticipated that last war's total Avould be doubled by April and this has happened. It is a record of which British people are justly proud. The money has come from a spontaneous corporate effort of the whole nation. Rich and poor alike have given to the cause. Not only in cash contributions, but by the widest variety of action and resource, every group, rank, and locality, it has been stated, has assisted in the work from Their Majesties, whose presence "at innumerable Red Cross functions has stimulated the generosity of thousands, and the Duke of Gloucester,- who has presided, over the collection, to the many philanthropists who give periodical Red Cross concerts, 'with a charge of a halfpenny for admission.

The Joint War Organisation of the Red Cross and St. John, as in the last war, is the agent and administrator of the fund. No sooner is the money raised than it is distributed in relief. One good cause it has helped is the Aid to Russia Fund, with which Mrs Winston Churchill has been closely identified, and through which British people have shown their admiration for a gallant ally whose amazing victories in the past eighteen months have swept the Germans from the Volga to beyond the Carpathians and into Rumania. Another purpose of the fund is to send regular parcels of food and clothing to prisoners of war in enemy hands. The value of this service receives almost daily recognition. Particularly when sick and wounded soldiers _ were repatriated from. German prisoner of war camps recently were expressions of profound gratitude showered upon the Red Cross for parcels which had made their existence less burdensome. Our own soldiers have felt the benefit from this service and have testified to its value. This year is the climax of the war, and the demands which will be made upon the fund will require every penny that is raised. The splendid manner in which donations are being made after more than four and a, half years of war emphasises the nation's resolve that the Red Cross shall have the money to complete its great task.

THE BURMA FRONT. The Burma front has come a good deal into the news in recent weeks with the Japanese assault -' on the positions around Imphal. But the uncommunicative communiques of the Allied Command, in which the public have naturally shown very little if any interest, give no clear picture -of the operations. This is due to the military censorship which has imposed an irksome restriction upon newspaper correspondents as well. It is not a matter of surprise, therefore, that Indian papers such as the Times of India should be calling for a clearer picture of the progress of these operations. It is known that the Japanese scored several successes in launching their attack against Assam, and there has been dissatisfaction with the optimism shown by General Auchinleck over the matter. The most important news is that the British are holding on to their positions in a battle which follows the pattern of the Burma and Malaya fighting of 1942, and have gained progress in clearing the enemy from points previously taken. The race is one with the monsoon and if the Japanese fail to make therr objectives its arrival will hasten their retreat. The transfer of the South-East Asia Command to Ceylon marks another stage in preparing for the offensive to liberate Burma and Malaya from the enemy. Within Ceylon, a correspondent states, one ot the most formidable land, sea, and air striking forces has been constructed for this task. When it does strike Burma's release from Japanese enslavement will be materially hastened.