June 20. the British Empire has confidence in Mr. Winston Churchill, and it undoubtedly has, he in his turn has unshakable faith in the ability of his countrymen to face facts. That is demonstrated in his speech delivered in the House of Commons, and broadcast throughout the Empire, which he delivered on Tues day. In it he gave the Empire the sta facts of the situation, hiding nothing of the enormous task which lies ahead, and the] dangers which confront the British Isles. It was the speech of a realist to a people, who} by reason of the grim experiences of the] past few months have acquired more realism} than they have ever had before. My. Churchill gave them the facts because he knew they could take it." The British Empire will Hight on for years ik necessary, alone if necessary. That Is the determination of] every real British heart. The last battle has not yet been fought. the last word not spoken, but when they are it.is the democracies! which will win and decide the terms of peace. In a short while Great Britain, with, it is hoped, the French Navy and ait force, will become the exclusive object of German tentions. The possibility of an attempted) invasion of the country looms now greater] than ever it did before, and the anxious days} of over a century ago when another tinental Power threatened the same thing will again have to be encountered. They! will be faced with precisely the same hardie hood now as they were then, with the inspired leadership of the Prime Minister to bring the people to ultimate victory. It is] as well to remember, as Mr. Churchill, reminded his hearers, that from the moment the Allies declared' war on September 3. of fast year it was always possible for Germany to have turned all her air force upon Britain, together with uny other devices of sion she might have conceived, and that} France sould bare dove itis or nothing prevent it. Britain has, therefore, been live in this danger in principle, anda. slightly modified form during all these months. Tt is indeed astonishing considering how Herr Hitler regards the British as the arch-enemy' that some such venture has not been undertaken before now. That, however, is a puzzle] which, perhaps, only history will solve But, in the breathing space which enemy inactivity in this respect has afforded, Brilish defences have enormously improved, and the fact ascertained that individually British aeroplanes and pilots are superior to the German. And so, casting up what he describes as dread balance sheet contemplating our dangers with lusianed) mind." Mr. reasons for but none w! panic, or dismay.
is the opinion not only of the man-best position to assess the real taels of the! situation, but an opin' ich is fortified by the professional advisers of the Government. explosive substances, of publications, cinemas No one for a single moment will seek to and public meetings; while the agreement minimize the dangers of the situation, or the agony which the people of the British Isles may have to pass through during the months to come. It would be the height of folly to, seek to do so, but there are all the indications necessary to show that Britain is in a good posture of defence, with approximate Ty two million men under arms, a powerful Navy, and rapidly growing air' force with which to meet the German menace. Obviously there are manifest diMculties in the way of jarly really substantial invasion of Britain. Possessed of command of the sca, against a German navy which has suffered considerable attrition, and an Italian navy which has! still fo show ts mettle, it should be possible to hold the shores of ibe United Kingdom inviolate, As things stand it would seem that the Germans are faced with 2 task which should be completely beyond their powers, namely to land adequate troops in Britain deal with the defence which can be offered them by the men already under arms, and those others who are yet to be called to the colours. The transportation of such a force! across the sea would necessitate escorts which the Germans do not possess, and as Mr. Churchill says it would be the duly of the British Navy to intercept these forces and destroy them either on the high seas, or at] the moment of landing.
More probable Is it that the German command will confine itself to continued air~ raids over Britain, and possibly the landing] fof parachute troops, but it is not to be be-Nieved that these latter stand much chance fof success against the large "British forces which have been formed to deal with them. 'The air-raid will be met by home defence on the one hand, from aircraft and anti-aircraft guns, and on the other by retaliatory raids over' enemy territory. 'The growing British' air forces, further strengthened by the taking over of onstanding French contracts with' the manufacturers in the United States, give! remise that eventual air superiority in numbers will be obtained, and that whatever the'
Germans succeed in doing to Britain will be: returned equally and even more. It will be: '2 grim and bitter business, but it will have! to be gone through to the end, for it is only now by the sternnest resistance that the! present disaster can be transformed into that victory which alone will restore liberty Europe. For those who are inclined to despair the encouraging words of Mr. Churchill towards the end of his speech need to be! recalled During the frst of the four years of the fast war, as Mr, Lloyd George will remem= ber, the' 'Allies' experienced nothing but disaster, and disappointment, and yet at the fend their morale was higher than that of the Germans who hag moved from one: aggressive triumph to another. During that war we repeatedly asked ourselves a ques How are we going to win? and no one: expectedly our terrible ipged "before and te were 0 glutted with victory" that {nour folly we cast it away through the dark days which are at pre sent being encountered, through those whi are still to come there must be that readiness to endure even the most grievous blows, striking back with every ounce of power, enforcing the blockade with the completest efficiency, until, as in 1918, the enemy' again breaks. Then it will be for statesmanship to make sure that the victory and its fruits shall be permanent, and that never agai shall a similar peril be possible.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.