TOPICAL?

Evening Star, Issue 23681, 14 September 1940, Page 5 (Supplement)

TOPICAL?

Hitler’s much-trumpeted invasion of this island was advertised for July 19. 1940 (writes our London correspondent! . The last attempt of this kind was over three and a-half centuries ago, in 1588, and it is interesting to recall that the Spanish Armada was first sighted off the Lizard on July 19 of that epic year. Sixteenth century Dons were more devout Catholics than twentieth century Nazis, yet they were less superstitious, if we are to believe the statement that Hitler’s British invasion has been postponed till a more propitious phase of the moon. In 1588 the population of England was less than that of London to-day, and Spain s invincible infantry, aided by horses that, were more novel to the Mexicans than tanks are to us to-day, had overrun the New World as well as much of the Old. - No woilder Shakespeare’s England was far more nervy about the Armada of Spain than we are now about Hitler’s. There are parallels between then and now though. Drake’s game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe has its counterpart in Whitehall’s' game of red tape, and the fighting clan of Drake and his Devon captains certainly live again in our 1940 Royal Navy and R.A.F.