WAR TOPICS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 37, 8 April 1942, Page 6

WAR TOPICS

fJ^BeacoßT

SABOTAGE IN OCCUPIED COUNTRIES [ CZECH PARACHUTISTS ACTIVE Six persons, including a Czech policeman, were sentenced to death during October, at Brno, disclosing the fact that Czechoslovak parachutists had landed in the so-called "Protectorate" to direct sabotage and underground resistance. Those condemned were charged with having aided the parachutists All of whom, it was indicated, were not apprehended. The policeman was accused of giving his weapons to a parachutist. The Prague radio,! It is said, broadcast a reward for information regarding the parachutists, who, apparently, were landed from planes flown from Britain or I Russia. Germany Afraid l of Czechs Joining Russians Reports from Prague show that the Czechs expect Russia to suffer many preliminary reverses, but they have complete confidence as to the final result of the Slav-Teuton conflict. The "Protectorate" Czechs have seen many elaborate preparations for this conflict during reccnt months. The Czechs are convinced that Hitler ordered the banning of the Solcol movement immediatelj r after the Yugoslav revolt because he realised the strong potential danger of Czech resistance during a Russian war. I

German anxiety over Russian sympathies in the "Protectorate" is proved by the issuance of a new decree forbidding the Czechs visit any municipality except their own, without first reporting to the poiice. By curtailing freedom of movement, the Germans hope to minimise the possibilities of illegal frontier cross Ings, as many Czechs try to join the Russian Army. Read in Reverse The influence of the Czechoslovak broadcasts from Britain, Russia and America, is so far-rcaching that the Nazis have given up their original plan cf suppressing all Czech papers, because they needed some means of counteracting Czech propaganda. The few papers which are still published are full of polemics against the Czechoslovak liberation movement abroad. But the people who read such papers—if they do it at all —read them in reverse, saying : "What is white is true: what is in black is a lie." Czech sabotage of German military trains passing through Bohemia and Moravia compelled the Germans to send 120,000 additional policemen to the Protectorate.

INTERNATIONAL

THE SYSTEM OF PEACE "(icrman disarmament is essential. The increased mechanisation of modern armaments ought to make that easier than it Avas. When an unarmed peasantry could make a good fight against regular soldiers, disarmament was almost impraetienble. That is not so nowadays, and though by itself disarmament will not suffice to convert Germans from the heresies of force, yet it won hi he a real measure' of security for her neighbours for the time being. As a long-term policy it is inadequate. It must be accompanied by evidence that the other nations do not wish to keep Germany in a position of permanent inferiority. The measures of disarmament enforced on her should be of such a nature os can be applied to other countries when it is safe to do so. That is desirable on other grounds. Vor it must not be forgotten that, though Germany is now the chief danger of peace, that may not alwavs be the ease. W'c must therefore aim at establishing an international system which will prevent aggression from whatever quarter it may come. Disarmament alone is not enough to achieve even this result. It must be accompanied by the creation of an overwhelming force for the maintenance of peace."—Viscount Cecil.

THREAT OF INVASION A SCOTTISH PARALLEL BURNS' FAMOUS POEM Mr C. 11. Burnett, of T aiming a, lias sent lis in the following article which being topical and extremely heartening should be of interest to our readers. It is some 150 years ago since "Robert Burns" wrote his ballad "Bruce's Address to his Army at Bannockbarn." The inspiring and rousing sentiment conveyed in this ballad, relative to the invasion of Scotland by the English over six hundred years ago, constituted a threat as momentous to the Scots of that day as the sinister invasion that now T threatens our own shores. This ballad should provide inspiration as vital in our crisis to-day as it did to tile Scots over six centuries ago., I will eliminate the first verse and placc on record Burns' succeeding verses, with slight alterations to suit the occasion. Now's the day and now's the hour; See the front o' battle lour; See approach the "Nazi" pow'r— Chains and slavery. Wha will be a traitor nave? Wha will fill a coward's grave? Wha sae base as be a slave?

Let him turn and flee. W r ha for "Britain's" King and law? Freedoms sword will strongly draw; Free-man stand or free-man fa? Let us do or dee. By oppression woes and pains, By yours sons in "Nazi" chains We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free. Lay the "Jap" usurper low Tyrants fall in every foe Liberty's in every brow, Death or Victory.

OUR PROTECTOR

ANGLICAN CANON'S VIEWS "For 150 years we have dwelt undisturbed. Far from the Motherland we have been dependent upon her goodwill and are so to-day. The stern lessons of the last two months should surely bring this home to us. Seven millions of people, with our industries yet undeveloped, we could not resist the impact of 80 millions, who represent one of the great Powers of the world. In an ideal world, where the rights of small nations were jealously guarded, we might be permitted to pursue our way unhindered. In the world as we know It, that is an idle dream. Why then have not covetous eyes often been cast upon our shores? This is one answer. The navy of the Motherland has kept its ceaseless watch. We were nursed as a colony and guarded as a Dominion. The settlement of common traditions bound us together. By these things wc lived. They are to us evident tokens of the regard of God. Let us not forget them in the hour of trial. And the immortal memory of the Anzacs is with us to-day. It seems a law of life that by suffering and conflict every nation eaters into its Inheritance. The Anzacs knew no bounds of sea or land.. Danger called them and they went. Let us not permit any imminent sense of danger to destroy that fine spirit which they bequeathed to lis —the Empire is one and we are one Avith it. For .!.">() years our lot has been east, and surely goodness and mercy have followed us all the days of our history. We need to remember dud's regard and make true response with loyal hearts.'" -Canon T. C. Hammond, of Sydney.