FAITH IN THE NAVY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 9, 28 January 1942, Page 3

FAITH IN THE NAVY

LESSON FROM TOBRUK AN AUSTRALIAN TRIBUTE; "After reading and hearing the pessimistic comments after the loss of the Prince of Wales and the Repulse, it was a relief to read your leader, 'Face the Facts Without Flinching'," the father of an Australian soldier wrote to the Melbourne Sun. "Commentators who quote enemy figures Avhen talking of naval supremacy, should be interned. From the days of Drake and Nelson, the number of the enemy has never meant naval supremacy for them when opposed to our navy, and it never will. "I would like some of those commentators who so delightfully quote numbers to prove supremacy to read Some of the leaflets dropped by the Germans on Tobruk. " 'You have no planes to stop our dive bombers, no tanks to stop our tanks, you are hopelessly - outnumbered, Avhy not surrender?' "The reply Avas ahvays the same: 'Come and take us, you —— "One German prisoner asked a Digger if the Australians intended to fight on noAV they Avere surrounded. The reply Avas: 'We will fight here Avhile we haA<e anything to throAV at you, and Avhen Ave have nothing ournna r y Avill take aAvay Avhat's left of us under your noses.' "Let us all have the Tobrvik faith In the navy, and Avhen a gallant ship goes doAvn forget all this rubbish about losing naval supremacy, for our navy has something the Axis will never here, the Spirit of Drake and Nelson."