A CHEERY LETTER

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4234, 22 January 1940, Page 4

A CHEERY LETTER

DIRECT FROM FRANCE. I ' IMPRESSIONS OF AN R.A.F. OFFICER. “I have come very closely in touch with a lot of French, both high officers and civilians, and there is really a great determination on their part to see that there sjiall be no recurrence of the 1918-19 business. They are determined this time to win the war by fighting—and I am entirely with them. It must be a military peace this time, and not a political one, if we are to be spared a recurrence of the threat in another twenty years’ time for our children. I regret to say that the French generally are just a bit dubious of us in that respect—not the Services, but the politicians—but we endeavour, with some success, I hope, to reassure them on this point.” The foregoing is an extract from a letter just to hand by a local resident from an R.A.F. wing-commander at present located “somewhere in France,” who wrote under date November 26th. He gives a posting address in London and, goes on to explain: “You may think that the above is rather an imposing address for one on active service; but it really the only means of getting to me in France.” The letter continues: “Little did we think twenty-one years ago that we should be in another Great War .... Your letter written just after the outbreak, which I received before I came over here, was a masterpiece, foi' most of the things you then prophesied have come true, particularly in respect to Stalin . . . Frankly, this is a funny war; totally different from what one associated with the other affair could expect. Our work is extraordinarily interesting. So far, activities have been very limited, though we seem now to be bringing down about a dozen Boche aeroplanes per day. Most of the activity seems to be at sea, where ‘Jerry’ is playing his normal dirty game. However, the Navy are limiting that pretty well, and I can tell you that our R.A.F. is the best thing in the world. We ‘have them stone cold’ in the air, though we have not actually had a chance to show. . . So far as I can see, this waiting game is bound to be in our favour, which makes it very difficult to understand why Hitler is not making a move; he can’t win by waiting At the moment we are having atrocious weather, though it is, as you know, normal for these parts at this season; nevertheless it is very trying. “They seem to have bags of food here in France, and I doubt whether the proposed rationing in England will be necessary; they have not started yet, and I think the enemy will find that we are getting all we need at Home. As usual, the troops are living well, though the continued inactivity is not suiting them ... It is rather comforting to know that Japan is quiet, and that threats to New Zealand and Australia are not so probable as at one time seemed. Incidentally, I should not be surprised at Italy ‘selling’ Hitler. I feel that the Japanese menace to Australia and New Zealand is negligible with the United States always ready to jump on Japan’s back.” The writer strikes a more personal note, in which he says: “Well, old friend, I note your expressed wish that you were here alongside me but you know youth must be served. However, one is only as old as one feels. I should never be surprised to see you turn up this way, in charge of a draft. On the other hand, one s responsibilities increase, and perhaps even I ought not to have jumped into this. However, if the urge impels one, it is very hard to resist. Here s wishing you and yours all the very best for 1940.”