"Last Wednesday the people of Rotterdam cheered and cried for joy when the R.A.F. was overhead. This is an example of the bad spirit which is still prevalent in the Netherlands." That statement does not come from the imagination of a friendly journalist, or even from a neutral. It comes from an announcer over the German-controlled Netherlands' wireless, though the* R.A.F. is in possession of a picture taken by one of its men of the people in the streets cheering. Earlier they had reported that as they flew over isolated portions of occupied France villagers and fishermen had waved their hats in cheery greeting, and, indeed, from most parts of occupied Europe, over which the British aviators have flown, there have come signs from the people of welcome even though they ran some risk from the bombing of German military objectives which might involve themselves and their homes in danger.
Dealing further-with the subject the same announcer said:—"They are the very people who suffer from the English, they cheer publicly every British pilot who has been captured by the Germans, We are happy that measures will be taken to prevent this." It is not amazing that this admission should have been broadcast, for it is apparent, and has been for a long time past, that the Ger" mans have realized that they are completely unable to woo the affections of the peoples they have put under temporary bondage and that by them they are loathed and scorned with the greatest cordiality. Discovery of documents at Lofoten issued by the Germans and now published in the form of a White Paper again prove that what is happening in the Low Countries, in occupied France, and in other countries is occurring even in Norway. And if the Germans cannot persuade these people to Jove them, they also cannot make them afraid. There is in the hearts of millions of people who have been temporarily deprived of their liberty no real Coa has been completely submerged by take in connection with this latest ment. While they may not be able to. the signal when it is given in terms of they may seek to suppress these illuminations, onthe ground that they may give pilots some assistance in finding their way about at night. Not that they need much assistance, though the Germans may seize Upon that possibility as an excuse for stopping this particular form of demonstrating European solidarity, It is not likely that thesthreat which has been made to the loyal Netherlanders by the notorious broadcaster Max Vlokzyl who said "We know that in leading circles of the new order patience is nearly exhausted and that ruthless action is looked upon as the only solution. This action will be taken," will dampen the spirits of the people of the Low Countries. Threats and ruthlessness have failed to cow them in the past, and will just as certainly fail in the future. People, who have suffered as so many in Europe have been made to by the Hunnish brutality of the oppressors, may have to abide their time for final revenge. Hate breeds upon brutality. The grievous wrongs which have been inflicted upon innocent people, the ghastly slaughter of the inhabitants of Rotterdam are kept fresh in the minds of the people every time they see a German uniform. That is why so many Germans are found dead in the waterways of Holland, and why misfortunes occur to Netherlanders who have gone in with the Nazis. Their lot will not be enviable while the time for final Accounting comes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.