The Dominion THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1944. BRITAIN TODAY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 227, 22 June 1944, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1944. BRITAIN TODAY

Yesterday there was published in these columns a lengthy cable message written by Mr. James Lansdale Hodson, which gave a penpicture of those “watching and waiting on the home front” in these stirring days. It was in every way characteristic of the writer, a veteran of the war of 1914-18 who has since won for himself a reputation as author and war correspondent, for he has alwaypossessed the capacity to add the personal touch that is of such great interest. It was, for him, a moment when memories came flooding in. “Four years ago last night I retreated to that port,” and in his book dealing with the evacuation he showed the irrepressible spirit of the British soldier by relating how, on an over-crowded little ship, some wag shouted the order: “Even numbers breathe in, odd numbers breathe out.” At the present time Goebbels, and the Nazi propaganda machine, are working overtime telling the German people of the terror, the devastation caused by the new pilotless aircraft in England, and probably they are doing damage, but what could be more characteristic of the British spirit than the reference made by this correspondent to the latest device of destruction: “Thus we watch and wait . . . The sirens are going again to warn us of more pilotless aircraft. They are going to be a nuisance, but we shall get over them, I have no doubt. They will make no difference in {he end.” That is confidence based on experience. The nation that has stood up to the worst that the enemy could do does not doubt its ability to carry on despite all that he may attempt to do. The steadiness that enabled people to defy the blitz of 1940 has been demonstrated again now that the time has come when the Allied forces have gone over to the offensive in every theatre of war. What they have waited for and worked for with wonderful persistency has come, and this experienced observer says that he finds* “nothing spectacular to record. an amazing picture that Hodson has drawn. There is the almost constant roar of great aerial armadas setting out from or returning to home bases. “Spasmodic gunfire in the later hours was not more than an interruption to sleep.” But he found his neighbourhood strangely empty and quiet. Only the middle-aged or old, or the very, very young remained. The others had gone to play their part in this great enterprise and that made the place seem almpst deserted’ Yet there is, for those who remain, “a touch of exaltation that goes with befog back on the French coast.” That at least marks the beginning of the decisive stage. It may be both long and hard, but it has commenced, and the efforts of a nation at war, m the war zone, have been steadily directed to achieve this. And when the day came people, it has been said, “went about their jobs with increased vigour.” Looking back over the dark days and the black nights this experienced student of armies and peoples simply says: “Well, the wheel has turned.” What a great deal that means.