THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 78, 15 July 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

WHAT WE THINK

The battle in the desert has proved more severe than the original (optimistic pronouncements led. the public to believe. It is true that Mr Churchill sounded a wise note of caution, but it is •* a pity that the spokesman in Cairo did not show an equal appreciation of the situation. 'The Germans are a strong force and their very presence was bound to prove a stiffening factor to the large Italian units sent to assist the senior partner. To represent the British task in advance as a .comparatively easy one and a certainty was neither fair to our troops nor good business for the ► outside w r orld. far as the mechanised factor concerned we had little advanover the enemy, Avhereas he had far greater experience of tank p warfare. It is true that the R.A.F. with splendid adaptability has played a glorious part, but. even so, General Rommel's combined forces were so

strong that there is every reason to believe that he himself was contemplating an offensive. Then what has caused the tide of battle to move ill our favour? First, the element of surprise, secondly the human quality of the British Army. Man for man the British soldier thinks quickly, acts quicker and fights on longer than any other soldier in the world. He possesses a combination of cheerfulness and stubbornness which is as baffling as it is dangerous to the enemy. In addition, there is a splendid rivalry in our Empire Army which leads to great things. The New Zealandcrs arc as proud as thej r are skilful. The Australians have always believed themselves to be better than anyone on either side and the3 r go to great lengths to 13rove it. The South Africans think that if only there were enough of themselves they could drive the Germans into the sea. The Welshmen, the Ulstermcn and the Englishmen look on their younger brothers of the Empire with the

approval of a master towards a clever pupil. As for the Scots, they consider that they invented war and that all others are amateurs. No wonder Ribbentrop gazes with his pale, watery eyes upon this picture of rivalry and comradeship and wonders at the miracle of it all. No wonder Hitler broods and asks himself why Britain's free Dominions rally to her side when he cannot procure one willing division from the Continent which he has "liberated." Once more the. spectacle of a united Empire staggers the world. We have set our sons free and they arc bound to us—by freedom. The German cannot understand it. Perhaps he never will. "The British Empire," said Ribbentrop scornfully, "is held together by moonbeams." Listen, Ribbentrop! Men can break their chains of slavery, but did you ever try to cut a moonbeam in two? The answer is to be found in the desert, where the immemorial wisdom of the ages looks on the Army of Empire sweeping to. the battle of. freedom.