ATTACKS ON ROYAL FAMILY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21219, 16 September 1940, Page 6

ATTACKS ON ROYAL FAMILY

There can no longer be any doubt that Germany is deliberately attempting to destroy Buckingham Palace and with it the lives of the British Royal Family. The aim is obvious. The Nazis believe that if they murder the head of the British Empire the people will collapse for want of a leader. But they are wrong. Attacks upon the King will only goad Britain’s fighting men to greater efforts. It will be remembered that the slaughter of the sovereign has been the particular aim of the Nazis in other countries which they have attacked. King Haakon of Norway was pursued relentlessly and barely escaped with his life. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands had to flee from her country because the Nazis sought her life. King Leopold of Belgium was used to betray his country. The attacks upon Buckingham Palace have brought a flood of congratulations to the King and Queen upon their escape from injury. In every corner of the Empire the people have been roused to anger, and the Germans will yet regret the day they embarked upon this campaign of ruthlessness. They have already lost far more than they could ever hope to gain. Goebbels has boasted that German airmen will drive the people out of London, and the obvious intention is to start the exodus by driving out the King. They believe that if the King is forced to seek safety elsewhere, London is doomed to abandonment. Again they are wrong. London has shown by the great strengthening of its anti-aircraft defences that it is able and determined to fight the Nazis until London and Britain achieve victory. Germany is probably beginning to realise that Britain’s democratic Parliament is, after all, its strong point. Hitler has become used to dealing with dictatorships. In such case the capture or the surrender of the dictator leaves the country leaderless and confused. But in Britain the position is very different. The King is the head of a great institution which has its roots in every corner of the country and in every section of the community. The loss of one leader leaves the institution unshaken, for there are many leaders, who lead not by force but by the will and the desire of all the people. Before Germany can destroy the Crown of England she must destroy the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. By comparison with'an attack upon the dictator of a totalitarian State an attack upon the King of England is futile and meaningless, except that it will raise all Britain and the Empire to stouter resistance.