War in the Air The object lesson which the Germans have sivan the Allies in connection. with the use of Parachute troops in the Low Countzies is being {ken thoroughly to heart, and. Mr. Anthony Eden, the new Secretary for War, has issued fu appeal for the formation of a body known the Local Defence. Volunteers. "The force which wil be a purely voluntary one, and eom= posed of men from 17 to 65 years of age will be sed. for the protection of small towns, and Villages against enemy. troops dropped. from aeroplanes when the expected raids on Britain ntuate. What has happened in Belgiimm and Holland may be the experience of Great Bri-fain, though Mr. Eden. emphasized that this particular menace should not be exaggerated. eis stated that mais alr-raids on Great Britain may be expected in the near future, and probably Just as soon as the Germans can establish bases in Belgium and Holland, such being lose to the British Isles that Aghters will be able to accompany the bombers, Judging from happened in the Low Countries it is the intention of the German command to throw {he last vestiges of restraint to the wind and bomb open towns. They may be expected to preelscly the same manner 9s they have on the Continent. That. view Is supported by the lying claim of the Germans that the British bombed. the open town of Freiberg Neutra reports indicate that a mechanized con-Yoy was passing though the town at the time. The British destroyed it from the air and in doing so killed a number of civilians. Should the Germans resort to the methods anticipated there should be no hesitation on the part of {he Allies to proceed to the most effective re-lallation possible. There is a number of cities ud towns in Gotmany, which are truly military objectives, and they should be subjected to exfselly the some. treatment os. that which it Is Delleved. the Germans. contemplate. subjecting British towns, Tf London. is bombed, reprisals should be inflicted upon Berlin, for' if one is 2 proper military objective, 20 fs the other:
A Wise Move After the German attempt to capture the Queen of Holland, it was only natural that she should sock safety in Great Britain where. she has been accorded a hearty and sympathetic welcome. It would have been a major disaster it'she had fallen into the hands of the enemy, for it would have enabled them to confuse the situation by issuing orders purporting to come from her which might have seriously hampered the Hollanders in the defence of their country, The continued existence of the Netherlands: Government, even though it is established for the time being on foreign sell, ensures the maintenance of complete Netherlands sovereignty in exactly the same way as the Belgian govern ment continued to function during the last war after King Albert had been forced to leave his country. With the Netherlands' Government still fu existence there can be no reason whatever for anyone to interfere with the st the Netherlands East Indies, the fat has so closely concerned all the Powers interested in the Pacific. It is now quite plain that the British and French Governments will not interfere with the sovereign rights of their Ally this respect, and it only remains for Japan to realize that' fact. It is entirely in the inter-fests of the Netherlands and its Allies that the former's colony in the East should continue to do business with everyone as it has hitherto. That course would indeed continue to serve the purposes of both Japan and the United States, both of whom are large customers. The recognition of the continuance of Netherlands sovercignty removes any, and every excuse for interference with the status of the Netherlands: East Indies, and makes it possible that the various assurances which have been given by the various Powers, will be "bserved in their entirety. Recognition of this fact, should serve greally to allay anxiety in the Pacific, and at the same time prevent an extension of the war to this part of the world.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.