The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th., 1939 UNCONQUERABLE SOUL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 62, 15 September 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th., 1939 UNCONQUERABLE SOUL

THE tension and political strife in Europe, created by Dictators, has resulted in Britain getting back her unconquerable soul. The British nation which for twenty years has been mildly bored about the tyrannies and troubles of Europe, has now pulled 1 up and said: "We ve had enough." And history has one clear lesson: When Britain declares she has had enough a change begins. Always the last to move, how often through the centuries has this lethargy been mistaken for decadence, her placidity for decay. A bulldog does not bark —it bites. Britain stands to-day ready for any new shocks that may come, as strong, as virile and ascertain of ultimate victory as she ever she was. Right through the ages, the fighting quality of the race has never failed the British. And never has England been so great as in these moments of crisis when to all the: world outside she seems to be doomed. Three hundred and fifty years ago the King of Spain bestrode the world. In June 1588, his proud Armada sailed up the channel with orders, as revealed by a spy„ that "All the realm of England should be invaded and conquered, and all that would withstand the invasion should 1 be rooted out." Ehgland had known no such peril for 500 years. To face: the proud' fleet of 134 large galleons, and a multitude of little ones carrying 8050 sailors and 18,973 soldiers Howard had only 70 ships all told. But greater than 70 ships were the men who manned them. In a week the might of Spain was smashed. One hundred years later it was the Dutch who aspired to rule the seas. Van Tromp tied: a broom to the mast of his ship as at the head of 50 ships he sailed' to meet England's 41. <4 This : is a sign that I shall sweep the English off the sea," was the boast of Va,n Tromp. Admiral Blake, in reply, hoisted a whip ''to flog the Dutchmen bacjt to Holland," and he did it. Always, when all seems lost, the soul of Britain rises again to surprise the world'. In 1779, with a rebellion in America,' and the whole of'- her army fighting overseas, Britain found herself facing alone a hostile combination of France, Spain and Holland. Seventy thousand soldiers were massed in Normandy to invade: England. In the Autumn 66 French and Spanish vessels sailed up the channel There were only 30 English ships to meet them. But Admiral Hardy by clever strategy, so carefully concealed his weakness that, the invading fleet turned back rather than face the battle. Britain was again safe until the day came when all Europe except Britain seemed under the heel of Napoleon. At Boulogne he mustered 100,000 men , and a flotilla of 2000 boats to land them on the English coast, but again the English fleet made: it impossible for them to sail. Two years later, in 1805, the French fleet was joined by the Spaniards. They had a superiority at sea if their fleets could combine, and with this superiority they hoped to hold command of the Channel long enough for the invading force to cross. It is well known how Nelson and his admirals smashed the scheme. But the Dictators believe that Britain is not the Britain of old, but it fs the same fallacy that has broken tyrants through the centuries. Let us not forget Mons, the Marne, Messines, Zeebrugge. That is the spirit of the British. That is the unconquerable soul of Britain. It lives to-day as it lived 1 in the days of old, and it will destroy tyrants as in the past. And Britain is prepared as never before.