Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1940 BERLIN'S BOAST

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 26 June 1940, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1940 BERLIN'S BOAST

A LEADING German journal has described the Franco-German armistice as, “the basis for Germany to obtain the best possible positions and means with which to attack England, and also the basis for a very considerable extension of German territory at a later peace conference.” The armistice in question savours somewhat of an unholy agreement entered into by France through the fraudulent and unpatriotic action of French statesmen who have been suborned by unscrupulous German politicians to turn France’s distresses into their own opportunity for injuring, if not ending, the Franco-British understanding. And now France has meekly accepted Italy’s terms for an armistice although it was Germany (and treachery, which is now synonymous with Germany) that defeated France. As expected, the Italian terms are just as ruthless, avaricious and humiliating as those Germany has imposed. It has been predicted that when all the terms were made known in detail, immense repercussions would be caused throughout the world and especially among Frenchmen abroad, who are already amazed and shocked at the action of the French Government in breaking faith with Britain.

It looks very much as though bribery had a good deal to do with the matter, but to what extent will only be known later, when those who know the facts can safely divulge them. Fortunately there are Frenchmen of a different sort from those who have betrayed their country, and placed personal interest above their duty to the nation. Such men have exhibited a degree of moral turpitude which brings to the tongues of critics such phrases as “treachery in high places’’ and “moral decadence.’’ General de Gaulle, who has gone to London, is one of those Frenchmen in whose hands his country’s honour is safe. He declares that the renegades who have handed the government of France to the German intruders have delivered into the enemy’s hands arms, aeroplanes, warships, and gold for use against Britain. Of this there is evidence from Berlin itself, where it was recently boastfully declared over the air, “Germany is now going to strike the only enemy left, and the chief culprit responsible for the war Britain,” and the message continued, “The armies of Hitler are standing in full readiness to emulate in England the glorious victory achieved against France.’’

If wishful thinking could accomplish its purpose that victory would be already won, but fortunately the English Channel and the North Sea intervene between England and her foes, and in those waters is the British Navy, supporting which is the Royal Air Force. There is good reason for knowing that for the purpose of shooting down parachutists the English have become a nation-in-arms, the King himself having contributed his small arms to the common stock. Apart from an invasion through Eire, the most likely way by which Hitler’s Huns could attempt to get to England is by flying, and when they land from their aeroplaftes if they escape the R.A.F. they will either be scattered (in which case they will easily be shot down) or if they arrive in large parties they are likely to be given a hot reception while they are in the air by the innumerable anti-aircraft guns which will be stationed in the vicinity of places which can be used as landing-grounds. The most unpopular person in England will be the stranger, who, arriving by air, seeks to make a landing in any one of those places which are used by English flyers, but where he is a stranger and unknown. Furthermore, the bigger the party of those arriving, the greater the suspicion in which they will be held, for England is in no frame of mind to welcome aviators from the Continent, and there is no doubt whatever that the hundreds of thousands of shotguns which have been furbished up are meant for use, if occasion serves, and that strange aviators, arriving from abroad, and unable to give a coherent or satisfactory account of themselves, would possibly meet with an accident which would terminate their flying permanently.