War Today Is Matter Of Weapons

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1941, Page 5

War Today Is Matter Of Weapons

-MR ALEXANDER

(Roc. 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March 16. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr Alexander), speaking at Torquay, emphasised that the war today was a matter of weapons.

The Navy, faced with the task of covering the seven seas was subjected to unprecedented forms of attack, has shown courage, devotion and skill beyond words to praise it, but without the weapons it needed, not even the magnificent qualities of all the ranks would suffice.

The successes in North and East Africa were another illustration of the importance of material in modern fighting. He expected the launching by Hitler this year of the most ruthless attacks by land, air and sea, which would bring damage, loss and tribulation. Achievements The British people faced this prospect with courage and fortitude. They remembered the recovery which their country had made from the reverses which culminated in the collapse of France. Who last summer would have believed that by now Britain would have established victorious forces in the Middle East, and have delivered crippling blows to the Italians on many fronts, while the Royal Navy held the Mediterranean in its grip? The British people also took note and lifted up their hearts at the fact that the people of the great democracy of the west had made it quite clear beyond peradventure .that under the leadership of an outstanding world statesman they would not contemplate for a moment the defeat of democracy and freedom by the ruthless and cruel dictatorship of Europe.

Pitt’s Words Applying

If he might paraphrase the words of William Pitt: “We fight for all that is worth living for on this side of the grave, not only for ourselves, but for all people, and we desire no territory gains. We desire no victories as a subject of vain boasting, but, recognising the immensity of the threat to our liberties, knowing that mans will is to be free and that he will fight ultimately until he is free, we apply ourselves to the task, feeling certain that by God’s grace the time will come when that freedom shall be established for us and shall be restored to those who have for the moment lost it, and that the cruel opposition of religious and racial ideas shall be ended.”