AMERICAN IMPRESSED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 25 October 1940, Page 5

AMERICAN IMPRESSED

SPIRITS NOT DEPRESSED LACK OF MILITARY DAMAGE [British Official Wireless] RUGBY. 23rd October. Two ol the strongest impressions gained by Mr Ralph Ingersoll, owner of an influential New York evening newspaper, since his arrival in England three days ago are: First, the unhurried calm of Londoners under the bombing ordeal. and secondly, the slightness of the damage to military objectives—harbours, factories, airports, bridges, stations and railway yards. Speaking of London’s calm. Mr Ingersoll said to a Press representative:— “I have seen no single evidence of panic. Old of two or three hundred people to whom I talked, only two or three were even depressed. I see Londoners as a people leaning against railings and reading newspapers while waiting for buses.”

His impression of lack of damage to military objectives Mr Ingersoll gained during a drive of more than 100 miles through England, when he saw only 15 bomb craters. Though the nonmiiitary damage he had since examined seemed a good deal greater than was thought in the United States. Mr Ingersoil found the effect of this on the pub-

lic much less than he expected. It was combated by unanimity of effort and calmness.

"I have nothing but admiration for London to tell America.” he said.

Referring to the United States public opinion about the war, ‘Mr Ingersoll pointed out that the Germans had made a most ingenious timing by assaulting Biitain while Americans were wrapped up in the coming Presidential election. United States opinion was largely sectionised. The north-east and the big cities felt the war very keenly and identified themselves closely with Britain’s effort. The south-east was more warlike. People there liked a scrap—and against Germans. Enlistment was high there On the west coast there had bee v p tendency to be disinterested and t- look only west to Japan. “But there i- generally more interest in the war to-day.’ he said.

Mr Ingersoll also contrasted the freedom given newspaper correspondents in England and in Germany, and told how one of his correspondents in Germany had been shepherded back to a oarty with whom he was making a tour by a squad of Nazis.