BRITAIN PRAYS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 7

BRITAIN PRAYS

Nation Resolute And

Eager

(British Official Wireless.) (Received September 4, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, September 3. At 11 a.m. today, the hour at which Britain went to war three years ago, services forming part of the national day of prayer were held throughout the country. A 15-minute service which was broadcast at the same time was listened to in factories, offices and schools as well as churches. The day was honoured with no more

formality than was necessary, but no less earnestly for that.

Westminster Abbey was filled for the celebration of ‘the day of prayer, and large numbers who were . unable to get in remained outside during the service. The congregation included the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, members of the .War Cabinet, apd many persons in service uniforms and of many nationalities. The Deputy prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, said today, “The opening of the fourth year of war finds the United Nations (resolute, eager and better prepared to meet the enemy by sea, land and air. Day by day and week by week they add to their strength in munitions and armed forces, but their efforts have not yet reached their peak, whereas the enemy long ago passed his and has suffered great losses./ We must expect further difficulties, but however long the way the issue is sure.”

To compare the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of war and today was to compare the acorn and the oak, said the Home Secretary, Mr. Morrison, speaking in London. Faint-hearted friends and. gleeful enemies, he said, used to point out that Britain was in a very weak geographical position—a small island with a great arch of German bases curving around her. Now how did that look, he asked. The maps had not changed, and the German bases were still there. But there was a difference iu the meaning of the geographical pattern. When the British attack did come, he said, it would be a bitter struggle. Yet we should know that the balance of offensive and initiative had passed over- to the United Nations, never again to leave them.