VITAL PHASE OF WAR

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 7

VITAL PHASE OF WAR

Air Secretary Asks For Great Effort GERMAN CHALLENGE IN NORWAY (British Official Wireless) (Received April 28, 6.30 p.m.) . RUGBY, April 27. The Secretary for Air (Sir Samuel Hoare) in a broadcast speech said that the German Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) that afternoon had made his much advertised speech to the diplomats of Berlin. “You will not wish me to say more than a few words about it,” said Sir Samuel. “We know this man. He is a dangerous adventurer who has played a sinister part in public affairs. No honest man trusts his word; no impartial neutral believes what he says. I need only say that it is a despicable lie to say that we have ever plotted against any neutral country and that it is lying hypocrisy when this charge is made by the murderer of Czechoslovakia and Poland. Let me leave this man to his lies and come to the crime Hitler and he are committing in Norway.” The Germans, Sir Samuel continued, had challenged Britain to fight on a new front and made Norway their

battlefield. Britain took up the challenge and would meet the Germans with, all the resources she could develop and all the power she could muster for the fight. NO MERCY FROM GERMANS “Let none have any illusions,” he said. “The war has entered an intense and vital phase. The enemy will wage it without mercy. He will give no quarter. He will certainly not spare the brave people of Norway who have been so shamefully and wantonly dragged into war after generations of peaceful and progressive life. For our part we will not imitate his dastardly conduct. We will not let helpless seamen drown. We will not bomb open towns. We will not attempt to defeat the Germans by terrorizing their women and children. All that we will leave to the enemy. But we will not leave him a monopoly of energy, skill and resolution. No, we must show these qualities to a degree far excelling the determination and ingenuity that he displays. Nor shall we pay the least attention to any threats he may make. We have now been given a duty that must be accomplished. Step by step the Allied forces must destroy the German grip upon Norwegian seaports and air bases. And they must put into the hands of the outraged Norwegian people weapons and fighting strength that will drive the enemy from the hillsides and valleys, from the harbours and fiords. But if the task before us is clearly marked, that does not mean that it is easy. Far from it. It will not be accomplished in a day; it will not be accomplished without sacrifice; it will not be accomplished without steadfast and unshakable conviction.”

After referring to the treacherous methods adopted by the Nazis, Sir Samuel Hoare said: “The advantage they won by a foul, cowardly blow must now be redeemed by hard fighting, by vigorous action and patient planning. And it will be redeemed.” Sir Samuel then addressed himself to the Norwegian people, promising them the full support of Allied arms and referred to the strong associations existing between Britain and the Norwegian King and Crown Prince, whom he described as “giving a noble example of heroic patriotism.” NAZI NAVY CRIPPLED Speaking of the British and Norwegian action against the German Navy, Sir Samuel said that as a result “the German Navy had been driven out of its lurking places and crippled. Whatever else is still uncertain about the Norwegian campaign, that is one result established and secure. The German Fleet is no longer a mpjor instrument of war. The loss of many of its ships has left us freer than ever to move our fleet about the seven seas, according as we need it for strategy and defence.” Sir Samuel then discussed questions of aerial warfare, saying: “As you realize, we are fighting this air war in Norway at a great disadvantage. The Germans have bases. We have not. The Germans fly from Norwegian soil. We must fly across 300 miles of open sea to reach the scene of battle. Still, with all those handicaps, the Royal Air Force and its partner, the Fleet Air Arm, have behind them a fortnight of splendid achievements.” He briefly mentioned some outstanding activities. Sir Samuel then related several accounts of air fighting taken, he said, from the “cold harsh words” of daily reports received by him. These kinds of episodes, he said, showed the task that the new war over the North Sea had set the British Forces and, he continued: “It is a heavy task. Let no one underrate it. And there will be heavier tasks in future. The Air Force will be ready for them and we must be ready to help the Air Force to succeed. We must recognize the need to mobilize the whole of our air strength. We can have no half measures. We dare not leave any resources untapped.”