ABOUT THE WAR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4285, 27 May 1940, Page 6

ABOUT THE WAR

COMMANDER KING-HALL’S STORY Many books about the war have been published in England, and many more will be published before the war is over. Most of those already published deal with the war indirectly, but that is not the case with Commander Stephen King-Hall’s “History of the War,” of which three volumes have already been issued. Of course, it is not possible to write a well-balanced history of the war while it is in progress and the great events which the future holds are hidden from us; but it is the aim of Commander King-Hall “to write a real history Within the limits of what is possible whilst the events to be recorded are still white hot from the anvil of time.” Volume 1 discusses the cause of the war under such headings as Nazi regime, the seizure of the Rhineland, the annexation of Austria, the Munich agreement, the seizure of Czechoslovakia, and the invasion of Poland. Volume 2 deals with the mobilisation of the British home front, the strategical situation during September and October, 1939; the war at sea, and with the diplomatic relations of the belligerents with neutral countries. The third volume carries the story up to November, 1939, and deals with the home fronts in Great Britain and Germany, military operations by sea and ajr, economic warfare, and further diplomatic activities. These three volumes constitute a valuable record of events, and are useful for purposes of reference, as well as for general reading. BEHIND THE SCENES When M. Gafencu, Roumanian Min. ister for Foreign Affairs, visited Germany in 1939 he went to Berchesgaden at the invitation of Hitler, who, in the presence of Goering, asked him why Roumania had signed a. defensive pa'ct with Great Britain. “You know that Great Britain could do nothing to help you,” said Goering. “You would be overrun and crushed before a single British soldier could go to your assistance.” Gafencu admitted that was possible. “Then why did you do it?” roared Goering angrily. “The British guarantee to a small nation is useful when the war is over,” replied Gafencu. The implication that Britain had a habit of proving victorious in war did not please' Hitler or Goering, but they said nothing further. This story is told by Mr Beverley Baxter in his book “Men, Martyrs and Mountebanks” (Hutchinson and Co., London). It was told to him by his friend M. Gafencu, when the latter visited London a few days after leaving Germany. Mr Baxter, who was formerly editor of the London “Daily Express,” has visited many European countries, and has met many of the men who figure prominently in the news in these troubled times. In his book he gives the reader many interesting glimpses of events and personalities, as seen from behind the scenes. He describes Mussolini as “the junior partner to a madman at Berchtesgaden,” and shows how the Fascist party in Italy is split into factions, some of which dislike the RomeBerlin axis. He states that Mussolini’s prestige in Italy began to decline after the conquest of Abyssinia. “It is queer, but it is true,” he writes. "The Italian people are easily bored, and tenacity is not one of their qualities. That is why they detest and ridicule the Germans, who hang on to an idea like a dog with a bone ... I came away from Italy convinced that no one, not even Mussolini, could bring the Italian people into war against Great Britain.” Of Mr Chamberlain, Mr Baxter writes: “He kept his goal clearly before him—peace if possible, or war held off until we are ready. There are many of us who believe that no other man could have brought us into war with subh national unity, such strength and so favourable a diplomatic situation.”

Mrs Murga.troyd (from the countdy to bus conductor: “Do you go to the East End?” ' “Yes, lady.” ‘Well, do you think I could just have a peep at 'the evils without getting off the bus?”

“George,” murmured the young wife, “am I as dear to you now as I was before we married?” “I can’t exactly tell,” replied the husband absent-mindedly, “I didn’t keep an account of the expenses then.”