New York, July 5. INDER the shadow of events overseas and the gigantic armament programme at home, the United States observed Independence Day yesterday with unprecedented ceremony.
After hearing the President declare that Americans must stake heir lives, if necessary, for the defence of liberty, they pledged allegiance to the flag.
The solemn tone in which President Roosevelt spoke from Hyde Park, New York, was followed by the voice of the Chief Justice, Mr, Stone, who led a huge unseen audience in pledging allegiance 1o the flag.
"The. office of civil defence arranged that Americans throughout the countty should stop work to participate ju the ceremony, Motorists stopped their cars, soldiers in camp stood at attention, children left their fireworks—an essential part of the dáy's celeprations—housewives stopped preparing the evening meal—all to listen to the rádio.
"Whole families stood round loudspeakers, repeating after Mr, Stone:
pledge allegiance to the flag of the "United States of America and the Republic for which it stands—one national indivisible with, liberty and justice for all."
in some paris of the country rain marred the fireworks, Elsewhere, displays-Were held with the usual gusto, perhaps for the last time for years, since the defence programme decrees that few, if any, may be manufactured until the world is again at: peace.
Americans were very impressed Ly reports of the intensity with which the day was celebrated in England sind the news that. despite war-time rationing, Britain was able to provide Americans with the usual dishes, There were the usual number of deaths in America, Twenty-two persons were reported drowned or killed in.car crashes or other causes in the first few hours.—Reuter.
Jackson Urges Reafürmed Faith "Washington, July 5.
Mr, Robert H. Jackson, United States Attorney-General, yesterday urged the American people to reatfirm their faith in democracy in order to undermine the "malevolent conquests" of the dictator nations.
a speech to the nation on Independence Day, Mr. Jackson said that the Declaration of Independence offers hope to the subjected people of the entire world.
"The over-ridden countries find a bid to insurrection in its assertion of the tight of the people to alter or abolish an existing Government that dd destructive to life, liberty and happiness" he declared—United Press. and Canada on. Anglo-American.cooperation and the. fight for Democracy.
R. G. Menzies, the Australian Prime Minister, said that "in matters that count, Americans and Austra-lions stand on common ground".
"Australians ere dálly becoming increasingly sure that Americans will never tolerate Nazi world domination", he declared.
"The speed of victory has been immeasurably incféated and the evil consequences of "wat, redüéed by American aid, and '*"evefore America, ike. Austmalia, has a trust to discharge, not. only for those living today, but tòr those coming after: - It is Australia's privilege to fight for freedom, mot only Australign freedom but the freedom of-Amefica and the world", Over 6,000-Ameri¢ans ate. serving im the Canadian, Army, did Mr. Ralston, Canadian Defence: Minister, addressing a. lünéheon of the American Legion aid: the Canadian Corps Association "at Toronto.
He. added that "that, fortress. of freedom, Britain, is held by the fighting spirit of Britain's Services and of the men, women, boys and girls of the British Isles".
Concluding Mr. Menzies said two peoples of common ancestors' who conquered the wilderness not by grace of government buf by, grace and vigour in themselves, were not likely to submit readily to a world
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.