Timely Topics

Northern Advocate, 13 September 1940, Page 4

Timely Topics

I “In Europe, especially in the neutral i countries next to Germany, the ? anxiety is naturally very great. For I the methods by

* INVASION AND UTS REACTIONS.

which Germany invaded Denmark*

1 Norway, Holland fond Belgium provide a terrible threat |to the integrity of those States. They I have, however, forced them to be on ? their guard against Quislings, against |‘tourists,’ and against the Trojan ? horse.” writes Mr E. J. Patterson, in i ‘St. Martin's Review.” “The nature I cf precautionary measures differs ac- • cording to country and geographical | circumstances; but everywhere there |is a realisation of the danger. What f has happened to Holland and Norway t and the methods whereby it has hap- > pened naturally gives ground for apt prehension, even allowing fur the ; differences of geographical character • and situation. Before the invas- ? ions Germany not only sent her spies, 1 but also attempted by means of racial f and national socialistic propaganda to | make sure of a body of traitors. LelongI ing to ihe countries to be invaded.’ "

i “Appeals are being made to the f prudence and common sense of civilians. All very well in their way!

9 t APPEAL TO l FEARLESSNESS.

But there is another appeal to which the heart of

| the British people ?is ready and eager to respond. It is ithe appeal to fearlessness,” writes Mrs f Pethiek-Lawrence in a letter to “The 1 Times,” of London. “Courage is a i primitive instinct, stronger even than i the instinct of fear. The impulse to come out into the open and fight will ultimately overcome even in an animal the impulse to take cover. Safety first does not win wars. The Maginot Line has been a weakness, not a strength. Refugees c rh the run have contributed to disaster in the field. Does not all this point to the fact that fear is the worst enemy? A people prepared as individuals to conquer fear in themselves would be unconquerable. Hitler asks nothing from his people but sacrifice and offers them nothing but danger. They respond with enthusiasm. The temper of the British people today is one of hardness and simple heroism. Why is this temper not universally and publicly realised? Why do the voices on the air speak of safety and not of sacrifice? Why do our spiritual leaders tell us to pray to God in His heaven, instead of evoking the God within Who alone can win the victory?”