OVERSEAS NEWS

Serial Waves, Volume 2, Issue 4, 24 September 1940, Page 4

OVERSEAS NEWS

His Majesty the King, in a world wide broadcast, said - "It is just over a year now since the. war began. The British peoples entered it with open -eyes, recognising how formidable were the forces against them, but confident in the justice of their cause; Now, after a year, let us consider together where we stand..: .• Much has happened- since Sep 1939. Great nations have fallen. • The baffle, /at that time so far away that we could just hear its distant rumbling, is now' at our very doors. The armies of invasion' are massed across the channel 0n1y... 20, miles from our shores. Air fleets of the enemy have launched ' their attack day & night against .our- cities. We stand in the front line, .to champion, those liberties Me-traditions that are 1 our heritage. As wg brace ourselves for the battle,' there. is much to encou- ; rage us. We have with us brave contingents from the forces of our Allies. : 'se have behind us the goodwill of all who love freedom. Our friends in the. Americas brave shown us ..their sympathy in many "ways, not the least by their gifts for the relief of suffering in this country. Nearer, .home in the British Commonwealth itself, the struggle of the Mother Country has been made the struggle of. the whole family. From every part,of it men & material are coming in an increasing flow, - & there is an eager desire to share in the sacrifices which will bring us victory. In this battle for Britain, London, mighty capital of Empire, occupies -the forefront. Others, of our Cities also are being subjected to barbarous attacks. Our sympathy gobs out to them all. But it is London that is for the time being bearing the* brunt of the enemy's spite. I . am. speaking now-.from . Buckingham Palace, with its "honourable scars, to London first of all ..••’ 0,0,, o °As we look around us we f see on every side that in the hour , of-her trial/, the Mother City is proving. herself to be built as a city of unity in itself It is not walls that 'make a city, but the people who live within. The walls of London may be battered, but the spirit of the Londoner stands resolute & undismayed. As in London, so throughout Britain ••••••»• I have decided to create at once a new mark of honour for men & women in all walks of civilian life. I propose- to give my name to a new distinction, which will consist ' of the George Cross,, ranking next to the Victoria Cross, A the George medal for wider distribution.. •••••»••»• Vinter lies before us., -.cold A dark, but let us be of good’ cheer. After . winter comes spring, A after our present trials will assuredly, come victory, & release from these evil things.. Let us then put our trust-, as I do, in God, and in." the unconquerable spirit of the British Peoples. A liner carrying children'between 3 & 15 from England to Canada has been torpedoed without warning, 283 lives being lost. Germany' has stated that the ship 'was sunk by the Royal Navy to gain sympathy for the British cause. Recent reports show the Germans have been making persistent attempts to bring Dakar under their control, & the movement of French ships from Toulon to Dakar, which clearly couldn't have been effected without German permission gave further evidence. In view of the fact that a large section of the population was opposed to the Vichy Govt’s policy, had declared in favour of Free France, Gen de Gaulle decided to proceed with a free French force to Dakar. He arrived this morning, & has summoned his supporters to rally to t his flag. Resistance seems to have been encountered, but the. situation is - / not yet fully clear. He is accompanied by a British force, ..which willgive him full support. .■. be:..- ■ ■ 4 \/.. .. . ■ ■ In today’s air attacks on Britain 11 enemy planes are known to be ..destroyed# We lost 11 planes, but the pilots of 7-are-safe; t The R A F again attacked widespread military' objectives in Germany & German® occupied ports. Raids were successful, os all our planes returned safely « Uganda has contributed a further £5.00' to .the Fighter Squadron fund, her total contributions to date being £.42, C ! 0. North Borneo has promisee, a further £5,000 for the "Spitfire” fund. /