England On The Eve Appears Quite “Normal”

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1944, Page 5

England On The Eve Appears Quite “Normal”

(Special) LONDON. -April 2li. What is it like trying to live in Kng land on the eve- of the invasion? As far ns the ordinary civilian is concerned, and apart from those in banned areas, or who have been removed from certain localities, life may be said to he as "normat" as it has been at any tilde (luring the war.

There is, of course, in the background of everybody's mind the query, "When will it begin?" Speculations are voiced in conversation at, hast (dice daily, with many theories advanced on the stale of the times, weather and moon, all of widen arc fed by daily newspaper reports of the Allied Nations' latest air attacks, and German and neutrals’ conjectures.

lint apart from this, and apart from the unspoken anxieties ol' those who hate relatives likely to tie engaged in the invasion. life goes mi much llm same This second trout speculation has exi-t ed so long now that it would In- hardly right to say there is a state of tension among civilians, but there will be a tremendous wave of excitement when the big m-ws breaks. Arrival of Spring

Without being banal, what pleased tile nv-rage person most recently is Hie arrival of spring, and the longer days. The connl reside in southern Kngland is lioW cloaked with lush green after the long, drab winter hrownness. and the beginning of the blackout has receded with double summertime to 9.15 p.m., which means a great relief from the dingy lutmel-fike winler days. .

Many already are beginning to think about holidays, which tire causing a good deal of puzzlement as to where to go this year, with so many coastal areas banned to the public. It is obvious that many people arc feeling the strain in this fifth’ year nt' war and wartime restrictions. Many complain that they tire easily. 'Phis was particularly noticed during ihe recent raids, when il was common to hear people saying that the barrage "bothered” them far more than in the old blitz days, when the results of ranis were fiir worse.

Housewives Still have a daily puzzle of how to eke out rations points for meals, and they look forward to the coming summer fruit and kitchen garden season to vary tlie* monotony of the diet. Spending On Amusement

Making the best use of clothes coupons also is another wearisome business. The average man, and many women, continue with their fire watching and home guard duties, the latter of which will be intensified during the early invasion clays. An indication of how the public's spare time is spent is the Budget statement that the extertainment tax yielded £2.500.01,0 more than expected. while' beer tax produced £18.000,000 more. Many racing fans welcomed the recent opening of the new fiat racing season as an alternative ending to the football season. with its weekly pool competitions. The majority of people still have high hopes that the war in Europe will be over this vear, but as the year grows older without the invasion beginning, others will see it extending into the next. Others again, it may be frankly said, are not particular whether it ends this year, as they have good war jobs and incomes, and wonder what they ate going to do when the war has ended. The average person, while fully aware that invasion is the most difficult and perhaps costly undertaking, wants to see it started, because they realise that the Germans cannot be decisively defeated until it is launched and launched successfully. Yet. above the speculations and wartime weariness, there is an air ot quiet confidence, for everyone know that unless some unforeseen hitch occurs, Germany will be defeated, and decisively defeated, and difficult as the peace problems may be, they will be welcome, compared with the dragging on of the war.