The various reviews of the activities of the British forces during the last two years indicate what a marvellous effort has been made and the manner in which Great Britain has been able to extricate herself from a position in which there was a possibility of defeat and place herself in such a posture of defence that confidence in ultimate victory is justified. There was a time when, if Hitler had struck at the British Isles, the situation become serious. Why he did not only time will reveal, but the ex-advanced at the time that the Occupation of the French capital was more attractive than an immediate onslaught upon Britain may possibly be true. When at last he unleashed Marshal Goering's air force it was even then too late as the Germans learnt to their cost, and the R.A.F. was given an opportunity of displaying their prowess in a manner which more than fulfilled expectations, The Navy: with its ninety per cent, boredom and ten per cent, of excitement, has succeeded in meeting and defeating the enemy whenever it has had the courage to come out from their ports. The German navy is but a shadow of its former self; what remains of the Italian fleet is small and the moral of its crews bad indeed, Italian command of the Mediterranean so often claimed has never been established. It is unlikely that they will ever succeed now. In the Atlantic the sea lanes have been kept open despite the activities of the U-boats and German aeroplanes. Imports are arriving regularly in Great Britain and there is every confidence in the ability of the Navy to ensure that deliveries shall continue. True the losses of merchant tonnage have been grave enough, but the vigilance of the fleet has prevented the Germans delivering that shattering blow to the mercantile marine without which the blockade of the British Isles can never succeed On land th British army is daily growing in strength inst the time when it will be possible to launch an offensive against the Germans on the Continent. From the small expeditionary force which was extricated from Dunkirk last year, the army has increased in strength until now three million trained men are under arms and more available, should they become necessary. The army has suffered its defeats: but has also gained victories. The Italians in Abyssinia have practically been wiped out. In Libya the same thing occurred, and prisoners far in excess of the number of British troops engaged are now in internment camps. The precarious situation in the eastern Mediterranean has been completely changed and the British and Allied forces in that area are sufficient to deal with any future menace Which is to be expected. British and American material is becoming available in increasing quantities and it may confidently be alleged that the weapons of victory are being produced at such a rate that the time when they will tip the balance against Germany may not be far distant.
On one point Appelius is silent. Did Hitler and Mussolini actually cooperate in making the first flag? Fancy the two wielding scissors and needles putting together this remarkable confection. The idea of Mussolini threading needles for Hitler has about it a certain appeal. It is certain that Hitler used the scissors, for he would not be so foolish as to give Mussolini the opportunity of gently inserting a point between a couple of ribs where it would do the world most good. With what pride the two must have seen the first of their flags hoisted. How the artistic soul of Hitler must have revelled in this achievement. The artist would have been supremier than the dictator,—that sentence seems somewhat reminiscent of Nero, whose forte, it will be remembered, was singing to his own accompaniments. Signor Appelius is owed a debt by the whole of the world for presenting to it the picture of the two most evil characters in Christendom temporarily indulging in the feminine art of sewing.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.