SPIRIT OF LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24833, 5 February 1942, Page 6

SPIRIT OF LONDON

LUFTWAFFE'S RUTHLESSNESS AN ELOQUENT EXHIBITION The vanguard of the;thousands of Dunedin people who will observe the spirit which carried London so bravely through the historic ordeal by fire and bomb in the last months of 1940 gathered in the D.I.C. building yesterday, and was introduced to a remarkable collection of photographs 'revealing the ruthlessness of Na'zi ' Germany's Luftwaffe. The series of pictures is a gift to the Newspaper Proprietors' Association of New Zealand by the 1 London Press Club', and is being displayed-in Dunedin for a few days by ithe proprietors of the two Dunedin newspapers. As Mr J. S. Sinclair, chairman, of directors of the Otago Daily Times Company, said at the opening function yesterday, it serves as an additional illustration of the fact that no matter how Great Britain's capital city is battered, the immortal spirit of the people of London will always remain. The message conveyed by the display is expressed perfectly; in the caption to its central feature, a magnificent study of St. Paul's Cathedral taken immediately after the brutal German raids of the night of December 29-30, 1940. "Serene in the Midst of Fire," it reads. But, as the several speakers pointed out, its significance is greater than that. London suffered, and much distress was the result. The monetary aim of this exhibition is to help to alleviate that distress by contributing to the Lora Mayor of London's Relief Fund. It is asked that visitors to the exhibition should keep this in. mind. Will Never Be Cowed This object was explained by Mr Sinclair, who presided over the opening ceremony yesterday. The opportunity was being given to everyone, he said, to see the nature and extent of the damage that may be expected from bombing, and to realise the ruthlessness of the Axis way of war, which was creeping closer every day to New Zealand. "This will enable you to see London as it is," he said. "Many of us know something of London as it was—a symbol of everything that the British nation stands for. We know of its justice, integrity, honour, and now we know something of its suffering. We admire beyond words the spirit that will never be cowed." Already the pictures had been displayed in northern centres, Mr Sinclair added, and it was hoped that Otago would make a worthy contribution to the -cheque N that would be sent to the Lord Mayor of London. The chairman expressed the thanks ; Of the Otago Daily Times and the Evening Star to the management of the.D.I.C. for the spontaneous offer of free space for the "This, remarkable series of photographs helps to make clear the grimness of modern warfare * said Lieuteriaht-coldhel J. G. Jeffery. "Napoleon is credited with saying that the British were impossible people to fight because they, did' not know when they were beaten. That spirit is with the British' people still. It has carried them through many ordeals, and it will win through many more yet. Meaning of Freedom It was a pity, he continued, that such grim times had to come before the full meaning of freedom ciated. The people of New Zealand might have* to face greater privations than any they had been called upon to face so far, but it was expected of them that, they would not flinch from such; a prospect. They had to remember always that in all probability anything they might suffer would be pracfically nothing compared with the experiences of the people of England; Scotland and Wales. v "We have that proud example in front of us always," he said. These photographs illustrate again that we have a job- to that •; we, shall do it with ever-increasing faith ana steadfastness." ■ :'• ... . , „ The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) formally declared the exhibition open. " This portrayal of the undaunted spirit of; the people of Great' Britain,'! he said "represents what Ilbelieve may prove ultimately . to be r the turning point in our favour in the of the war. They remind us that when during the German blitzkrieg of 1940, the people of Great Britain stood alone, to suffer and repel "the of German fury,ythey. triumphed and announced to the world that the ultimate result of all this wanton destruction and cruel suffering will be the liberation of the people'; of the world from the yoke of tyranny and the right to live their lives according to their own ideals. We in New Zealand owe to the sufferings of Great Britain our future hapiriess and our very existence as a free people." ' ~ Symbol of Victory

During her centuries of progress and development, throughout her glorious past and the many great and successful battles she had fought, the Mayor said, England's greatest period in all time might yet prove to be during August-October, 1940, when, in the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force and the indomitable courage of her people beat. the frightful attacks of successive waves of the German Luftwaffe, carrying a their terrifying and death-dealing bombs. On the eve of the Battle, of Britain, Goebbels said: "The Luftwaffe had prepared the final conquest of the last enemy—England." The result was that the enemy's known losses were 2375 aircraft, and the probable numbers were even greater. The attack on London and its environs was the crux of the battle, and it failed^ "These pictures tell that story, and the destruction they portray is not a sign of defeat, but a symbol of victory,' Mr Allen said. "I quote the following statement by the Empire's great leader, Mr Winston Churchill:—' The gratitude of every home in our island. in our Empire, and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen, who,. undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant' challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in.the field of human 'conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.'", , Mr Allen concluded with the reminder that New Zealand was to raise £150,000 for the. Lord Mayors Fund this year, and'that Otago's share of that contribution was to be £13,500. "I know Otago will do its share.' he There was no doubt of the attitude towards the display of the several hundred persons who were present yesterday. Neither can there be any doubt of the attitude of future attendances. The display is grouped—churches, places of historical interest, business houses, and general. It proves the indiscriminate nature of German bombing as -well as the utter-callous-ness of the. Luftwaffe. But above all it goes to'the heart of the indomitable spirit of London's vast populace.