THE KING IN FRANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25566, 20 June 1944, Page 4

THE KING IN FRANCE

A few days ago, when a member of the House of Commons protested that the Prime Minister’s visit to the beach-head in Normandy had involved him in unnecessary risk, the retoft was made by the Minister of Information that it was Mr Churchill’s duty, as Minister of Defence, to see things for himself. “ Mr Churchill has run risks in this war,” said Mr Bracken, “ and he may have to run many more. There is no sacrifice of health or comfort he will not make in the service of Britain.” If that answer were deemed adequate in the case of the Prime Minister, it could not be less than a complete answer also to any objection that might be raised to the action of his Majesty the King in exposing himself to the hazards of a cross-Channel journey and a tour of inspection of the invasion beach-head. For the-King, not less than his Prime Minister, has made a practice during this war of seeing things for himself, on the battle fronts not less than in those cities of his realm which, at an earlier stage of the struggle, felt the full and deadly malevolence of German attack from the air. There is a span of centuries between this and the last setting foot on Norman soil of an English king at war, though not on other soil of France. This present visit to embattled Normandy was of brief duration. But when he visited the British Expeditionary Force in France in December, 1939, King George’s tour of inspection lasted some four days. On that occasion, accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester and Field-marshal Lord Gort, his Majesty saw all there was to be seen behind the Allied lines, and concluded his visit by lunching with the French President and Prime Minister in a small town well within sound of the guns. His second visit of the war to the forces overseas was made just a year ago, when he spent a fortnight touring the North African battle-ground and paying his memorable personal tribute to the courage and steadfastness of the heroic defenders of Malta. In Africa, as in France on this occasion, he gained first-hand knowledge of the fighting skill of the British, American, and French Allies, and was everywhere received with tremendous enthusiasm. The journey to and from Africa was made by air, in a four-engined bomber flown by

his Majesty’s personal pilot, Group Captain Fielden. During the brief Channel crossing he would perhaps be more at home, on the quarterdeck of one of his fighting ships, for his naval experience is considerable and his love of the sea traditional. His Majesty, we may be very sure, i 3 not permitted lightly to expose himself either to the dangers of wartime travel or to the risks of battlefront inspection. But his decision to visit the men who are paving the way for the liberation of France was characteristic of his desire and firm determination to associate himself, at all times and in all things, with his people at war—to share their dangers as he will ultimately share, in fullest measure, Iheir triumph in victory and peace.