BRITAIN NEXT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 8

BRITAIN NEXT

GERMAN EUTHLESSNESS DRASTIC EFFORTS NEEDED UNITED WILL FOR VICTORY By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright British Wireless LONDON, May 10 "After this battle in Franco abates its force there Avill come a battle for our island, for all that Britain is and all that Britain means," Mr. Churchill said in his broadcast address. "In that supreme emergency we do not hesitate to take every stepeven the most drastic—to call forth from our people the last ounce and effort of which they are capable. "We must expect, as soon as the Western Front is stabilised, that the bulk of that hideous apparatus of aggression which dashed Holland to ruin will be turned against Britain. We must have, and quickly, more aeroplanes, more tanks, more shells and more guns. Our task is not only to win the battle, but to win the war. "The interests of property and the hours of labour are as nothing compared with the struggle for life and honour, for right and freedom, to which we have vowed ourselves. Pledges from Prance "I have received from the chiefs of the French Republic the most sacred pledges that whatever happens they will fight to the end, be it bitter or glorious—nay, if we fight to the end it can only be glorious. "Having received His Majesty's permission, I have formed an administration of men and women of every party and almost every point of view. We have differed and quarrelled in the past, but now one bond unites us all—to wage war until victory is won, and never to surrender ourselves to servitude and shame, whatever the cost and the agony may be.

"If this is one of the most awestriking periods in the long history of France and Britain, it is also, beyond all doubt, the most sublime. Side by side, unaided except by our kith and kin in the great Dominions, and by the wide Empires which rest beneath their shield, the British and French peoplo have advanced to the rescue not of Europe only, but of mankind, from the foulest and most soul - destroying tyranny which ever darkened and stained the pages of history. "Conquer We Shall"

"Behind them gather a group of shattered States and bludgeoned races, Czechs, Poles, Norwegians, Danes, Dutch and Belgians, upon all of whom the long night of barbarism will descend unbroken by even the star of hope unless we conquer —as conquer we must, as conquer we shall. "To-day is Trinity Sunday. Centuries ago words were written to be the call and spur to faithful servants of truth and justice: 'Arm yourselves and be ye men of valour and be in readiness for | conflict. For it is better for us to perish | in battle than look upon the outrage i of our nation and our altars. As the will of God is in heaven, then so let Him do.' " AIR CREW CAPTURED UNARMED CIVILIAN r LONDON, May 15 A 50-year-old Scottish gardener, Mr. George Muir, to-day told how he captured the crew of a German bomber single-handed. While cycling to work in the war cemetery at Vingtannum, in France, he saw a large aircraft crash. He ran to the aeroplane to give assistance. "I was surprised to see five Germans leave the machine carrying injured comrades," he said. "I was unarmed, but I challenged them, and they dropped the wounded and appeared about to run. "I know few words of German, but I called out, 'Disarm.' A sergeant put his hand to his revolver, then shrugged, slowly withdrew the weapon and handed it to me butt first. "Another Scottish • gardener ran up, armed with a spade. Together we guarded the Germans until members of tho R.A.F. arrived and took them prisoners." LEADER'S DILEMMA QUESTION OF £2OOO A YEAR LONDON, May 13 Mr. J. Maxton, leader of the Independent Labour Party in tho House of Coinmonsj consisting of himself and Messrs. J. and Campbell Stephen, is wondering whether ho can claim the £2OOO a year job as leader of the Opposition. He said that such a claim .might be farcical, but not dishonest. "We are the only real Opposition," he said, "and represent a body of opinion throughout tho country, the size of which, however, Ave do "not exaggerate. "There might he a move to reduco the salary on the grounds that it is useless to pay £2OOO a year to tho leader of a party of three. Wo should have to fight that on principle."