A YEAR OF MIRACLES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 6 August 1941, Page 5

A YEAR OF MIRACLES

BELGIAN MINISTER SPEAKS GERMANS’ STRANGE MISJIJDGMENTS Rugby, Aug., 4 Broadcasting on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the invasion ol Belgium in the last war by Germany the Belgian Minister of Finance, M Camille Gutt said: “The Germans arc a strange people. They are apt to bcilieve a lot of rubbish and do not bejlieve what actually happens. In 1914 'they never believed that Great Brijlain would go to war, and they believed still less that the United State* would do the same. That is what actually happened, and that is why they lost the war. “This time they believed in ‘Mein Kampf and in Hitler’s speeches about a short war and about a one-front war. They did not believe that in the air battle of Britain they would be routed, and it actually happened. They did not believe that the United States J would use its unlimited material resources to help Britain defeat them, and it actually happened. “They' did not believe that Russia | would put up a fight, and how she fights! They did not believe that Berlin would be bombed better—if I may '.say so—than London, and that is what they are beginning to see.” j Referring to the indomitable spirit of the Belgian people, M. Gutt said. "It breathes everywhere, from the King who. as a prisoner, declines to govern under the Germans, and the unknown j heroes sabotaging in Belgium at the risk of their lives, to the Burgomaster of Brussels, who has proudly refused to resign, and to the imps in the street I who in the face of German officers sing victory songs or ironically mimic the failure of the Channel crossing. The - bodies are captive, but the soul remains unconquerable. MESSAGES TO TWO PEOPLES "I have been speaking for my British friends, but I feel absolutely sure of being heard by our friends in Belgium. You know that in spite of the threats of heavy fines and imprisonment they are among the 8.8.C.’s best customers. To them I say:— “Hold on, for this has been a year of miracles. We have now started on ; the road to victory. Nobody can name i dates, but the day is no longer so far ;off when the Germans, realising as in 1 1918 their losses, their failure and their shame, will crack up all of a | sudden and collapse. “To my British friends I say: “ ‘We thank you. We thank you for all you have been doing for us and for the world of freedom. We thank your : sailors, soldiers and airmen, who now ; have been joined by our sailors, our ; soldiers and qj.:r airmen who are rallying to our colours from every part i of the world."—B.O.W. ACUTE UNREST IN FRANCE (Rec., 9.0 London, Aug., 5. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that observers who have recently arrived from France say that the country is seething with discontent under Vichy rule. France, particularly the unoccupied section, is! almost ripe for revolt, and it is be- i lieved that the fall of Marshal Petain would lead to open rebellion. —U.P.A.