The Prime Minister said that Sir John _Dill's warning last Tuesday that ~Hitler might, by strategic, economic or political stress in Europe, be forced to invade Britain in could not be dis-he sid, "we are working night and day. We have everything ready, Of course we are stronger than ever before, incomparably stronger than in' July, August and September. Our navy is more powerful and our flotillas more numerous, We are far stronger, actually and relatively, in the alr above these islands than when our fighters beat off and beat down the Nazi ftlack last autumn. Our army is more numerous, more mobile, far better equipped and trained than in September, and still more than in July, and' T have great confidence in our Commander-in-Chief and in generals of proved ability who, Under him, quard the different quarters of our Jand.
"Most of all T put my faith in the simple effective resolve to conquer for die which will animate. nearly 4,000.00 Britons with serviceable weapons in their hands.
"It is mot an easy military opera~ tion to invade an island like Great Britain without command of the sea and air, and then to face what will be walling for the invader, but T must give one word of caution. Next to cowardice and: treachery, fever-confidence leading to neglect and slothfulness is the worst crime."
Had To Think Again A Nozi invasion of Britain last autumn would have been more or ese an improvised affair, said Mr. Churchill, Hitler took it! more oF jess for granted when France sur Tendered that Britain should give in too, but Britain did not and he had to think again, months since I spoke to the British. ation and Empire on a broadcast, In wartime there Is a lot to be, said for the malto deeds, not words, All the same It is a good thing to look round from time to time and take lock, and certainly our affairs have prospered in several directions dur~ ing these last four or five months, and. were better than most of us would have ventured 10 hope.
"After the heavy defeats of the German alr force by our fighters in August and September, Hitler did not dare to attempt an invasion of this island, although he had need to do so and had made vast prepara-
British Relations
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