“TO THE DEATH”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24915, 14 May 1942, Page 5

“TO THE DEATH”

GRIMNESS OF STRUGGLE AUSTRALIA PREPARED (Rec. 1.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 13. “Our contest is to the death, and there can be no glossing over its grimness or finality,” said General Sir Thomas Blarney, commander of the land forces in Australia, broadcasting to the troops throughout Australia tonight. “It is a personal contest for the enemy soldier, in which his strength of body and fitness of mind will be tested to the limit. We are training to fit every officer and man to overwhelm, destroy, and slay the aggressor, who would wrest from us our liberty, land, homes, and womenfolk. There is no true Australian man who is not prepared to die to prevent this. The whole object of our training is to build up such a spirit that will force our way to victory or death.” After detailing the objects of the various forms of training, General Blarney said the Australian and American pfeoples stand as the vanguard of civilisation. In each of our countries freedom for the individual has reached its highest development. With that freedom gone and all our acts and ways subjected to barbarian control, life would have no value. We have the strength to defeat this enemy. We must, and we will.”