LEST WE FORGET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23751, 3 September 1940, Page 10

LEST WE FORGET

Sir, —Think of the muddlement during the last war—of the years it took to counter the German menace to our shipping, in spite of the fact that we had the assistance of the French, Italian and Japanese navies—of the years it took to organise munition production—of our inferior aeroplanes. Then compare the Britain of to-day, with a smaller navy against far greater odds, every menace to our sea trade quickly countered, Britain with another navy tinder construction, the .strongest army she has ever had, the besttrained air force, superior aeroplanes with better staff ready for use, the best air defences and protection for civilians, the organisation to provision Britain against blockade and invasion, production of aeroplanes, munitions and training of pilots spread over the Empire, and an organisation of industry such that when the people of England realised they had to nght for their lives, and for "that reason began to work, it was possible'to outstrip Germany in aircraft production and enormously increase production of munitions. It mav be truly said that the socalled inefficient Neville Chamberlain, actually the personification of efficiency, has saved the Empire. _ How right he was over the evacuation of Norway. How wrong were his screaming critics who drove him from office. Mr. Chamberlain still lives at No. 10 Downing Street, and evidently Mr. Churchill is not letting far from his side by far the greatest statesman England has yet produced. W. Gray.