SUPREME TASK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 226, 23 September 1940, Page 7

SUPREME TASK.

BRITISH PEOPLE. London Stands As Bulwark Of Freedom. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 22. A spirited repudiation of the suggestion that Britain is a beleaguered fortress was made in a broadcast address to America by the Lord Mayor of London, spoken in his absence, owing to a slight cold by the former Lord Mayor, Sir William Broadbridge.

He said: "Just look for a moment at this England of ours. It is the home of men and women resolutely preparing themselves for the most supreme task in British history. "Night by night there flies out from this island the spearhead of our attack on Nazi Germany. That spearhead is the Royal Air Force, whose heroic exploits are known to all the world, but even these brave men of the air could not give us command of the seas. "If the British Fleet did not hold the ocean around our shores against all comers, the hope of freedom in the world would die. Who, except Goebbels, could suggest Britain is besieged to-day when our ships bring us daily, and in safety, the food we eat, the eteel, copper, oil and cotton we need for our effort in the war. We are daily revictualled and replenished from the granaries and arsenals of the world, and week by week our export trade is carried out over seven seas. ? " No Idle Boast." "This is no idle boast. It is the plain honest truth, but do not imagine we can keep our seaports open to receive the rich cargoes of the outer world without paying a price, and a very heavy price. Patrols of the Royal Navy are guarding not only the shores of Britain, but the security of the whole world. "We stand to-day facing the greatest crisis in our history, looking to victory sure and complete with a banner bearing our ancient motto, 'Domine Dirige Nos'."

Referring to the present trials London was undergoing, the Lord Mayor said: "London has known in past moments when all she most valued, liberty and life itself, were at stajse, but never in her long annals has she been called upon to face an ordeal so cruel or so searching. Her long established traditions of safe and settled ways have been assaulted as never before. Her peaceful citizens have been subjected to the ruthless cruelty of an embittered foe bent on her destruction.

"To-day London stands as the very bulwark of civilisation and freedom as we know it. It is the greatest responsibility the world has ever known. This red earth of our countryside, these paved streets of my city, built on Roman foundations shall, and will, be defended to the last. London City has sometimes in her history been attacked, but never sacked."

SWISS TRIBUTE. Londoners' Reaction To Air Raids. DESERVE HIGH ADMIRATION. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 22. A Press message from Zurich gives an extract from a dispatch published in the "Xeue Zuricher" from its London correspondent, in which he describes what he has seen of London under repeated German night bombing. He eays: "The calm courage of the people of London deserves the highest admiration. Even among those suffering most, one can rarely hear complaints. One consoles another, and willingness to help one another and share possessions regardless of class distinctions is wonderful to see.

"The attitude of Londoners is all the more admirable as they realise that the air raids are likely to continue and may become worse, and they realise they must stay at their posts. Air raids or no air raids they are proud to bear the brunt of the lighting and show the world that the British will not be terrorised by German methods.

"I myself am convinced that Britain's war industry has not been affected, and that the air attacks on London have no milita'ry object."