SYMBOL AND CITADEL OF FREEDOM

Evening Star, Issue 23689, 24 September 1940, Page 7

SYMBOL AND CITADEL OF FREEDOM

London Resolute and Undismayed

Whole Nation Braced For Battle (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 23. '(Received .September 24, at 11 a.m.) The King, in a broadcast this evening heard over the whole world, said: “ It is just over a jear now since °the war began. The British peoples entered it with open eyes, recognising how formidable were the forces against them, but confident in the justice of their cause. Now, after a year, let us consider together where we stand. Much has happened since September, 1939. Great nations have fallen in a°battle at that time so far away that we could only just hear its rumbling. “ Now at our very doors the armies of invasion are massed across the Channel only 20 miles from our shores. The air fleets of the enemy launch their attacks day and night against our cities. We stand in the front lines to champion those liberties and traditions that are our heritage. As we brace ourselves for battle there is much to encourage us. We have with us brave contingents from the forces of our allies. We have behind us the goodwill of all who love freedom. Our friends in America have shown us this in many ways, not least by their gifts for the relief of suffering in this war. Nearer home, in the British Commonwealth itself, the struggle of the Mother Country has been made the struggle of the whole family. From every part of it men and material are coming in an increasing flow, and' there is an eager desire to share in the sacrifices which will bring us victory. In this battle for Britain, London. mighty capital of the Empire, occupies the forefront. Others of our cities are being subjected to barbarous attacks, and our sympathy goes out to them all, but it is London that is for the time being bearing the brunt of the enemy’s spite.

COURAGE AND FORTITUDE.

I am speaking now from Buckingham Palace, with its honourable scars, to , Londoners first of all, though, of course, my words apply equally to all British cities, towns, and hamlets which are enduring the same dangers. The Queen and I have seen many places here which have been most heavily bombed and many of our people who have suffered and are suffering most. Our hearts are with them to-night. Their courage, cheerfulness, and their faith in their country’s cause and final victory are an inspiration to the rest to persevere.

■ ‘ To the men and women who carry on the work of the A.R.P. services I should like to say a special word of gratitude. The devotion of these civilian workers, firemen, salvage men, and many others, in the face of grave and constant danger, has won new renown for the British name. These men and women are worthy partners of our armed forces and our police, of the Navy, once more, as so often before, our sure shield, and the Merchant Navy, of the Army and Home Guard, alert and eager to repel any invader, and of the Air Force, whose exploits are the wonder of the world.

“ To-night, indeed, we are a nation on guard and in the line. Each task and each bit of duty done, however simple and domestic, is part of our war work. It takes rank with sailors duty, soldiers' and airmen's duty. The men and women in the factories or on the railways who work on regardless of danger though the sirens have sounded, maintaining all the services and necessities of common life and keeping the fighting line well supplied with weapons, earn their place among the heroes of this war. No less honour is due to all those who night after night uncomplainingly endure discomfort, hardship, and peril in their homes and shelters.

CREATION OF NEW HONOURS. “ Many and glorious are the deeds of gallantry done during these perilous but famous days. In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognised I have decided to create at once a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of civilian life. I propose to give my name to a new distinction, which will consist of the George Cross, ranking next to the Victoria Cross, and the George Medal, for wider distribution. “ As we look around us we see on every side that in the hour of her trial the mother city is proving herself to be built as a city of unity in itself. It is not walls that make a city but people who live within. The walls of London may be battered, but the spirit of the Londoners stands resolute and undismayed. “ As in London so throughout Britain buildings rich in beauty and historic interest may be wantonly attacked, and humbler houses, no Jess dear and familiar, may be destroyed. But ‘ There’ll Always be an England ’ to "stand before the world as the symbol and citadel of freedom and to be our own dear home. NAZIS' FOUL DEED. “ And hcie I would like to tell sorrowing parents how deeply we grieve for them in the loss of their young ones m the ship torpedoed without warning in mid-Atlantic. Surely the world could have no clearer proof of the wickedness against which we light than this foul deed. I AFTER WINTER COMES SPRING. “We live in grim times and it may be grimmer yet. The winter lies before us, cold and dark, but let us be of good cheer. After winter comes the spring and after our present trials will assuredly come victory and release from these evil things. Let us then put our trust, as I do, in God and in the unconquerable spirit of the British peoples.

LARGE BLOCK OF FLATS HIT SEVEN REFUGEES KILLED LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 9-5 a.in.) Seven refugees of different nationalities were killed and a number injured when a high explosive bomb directly hit a large block of West End flats. They had been sheltering in the basement for only 20 minutes following the destruction of their own homo 100yds away by a time bomb. Four more German planes have been shot down. TOLL OF RAIDERS ELEVEN SHOT DOWN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 23. (Received September 24, at 9.35 a.m.) Four largo formations of German raiders are reported to have attempted to reach London this morning by three routes, over the Kent coast, the Essex coast, and the Thames Estuary. They were broken up by British fighters and anti-aircraft fire, but a few are reported to have reached the London area, where there was a brief alert warning. Authoritative reports so far received indicate that five enemy aircraft were shot down by fighters during the morning’s engagements. It is officially stated that altogether 11 enemy machines were destroyed. Eleven R.A.P. fighters were lost, but the pilots of seven are safe. BERLIN CLAIM BERLIN, September 23. (Received September 24, at 1 p.m.) A communique states: A German motor toppedo-boat sank an armed merchantman and damaged a patrol ship off the British coast. Reprisals against London wei’e continued. British planes last night bombed North Germany, destroying numerous farmhouses. Single enemy planes reached Berlin, There was no damage. No enemy planes were brought down. One of ours is missing. A TJ-boat sank four enemy merchantmen, totalling 29,000 tons. TUBE RAILWAY CONVERSION INTO DEEP SHELTER LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 8 a.m.) Work has begun in converting the Holborn-Aldwych section of the Piccadilly tube railway into a deep shelter. It is intended l to install bunks, but the shelter’s use is being limited to those unable to obtain comparative safety. ENEMY FORMATIONS BROKEN ENGAGEMENTS OVER SOUTHERN ENGLAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 23. (Received September 24, at 1.15 p.m.) An Air Ministry and Home Security communique, describing Monday’s enemy air attacks, says: A formation of enemy aircraft, mostly composed of fight.ers, which crossed Kent and South Essex coasts in the morning, was met and attacked by our fighters. The enemy were broken up. Engagements took place over Kent, Essex, and off the coast. No bombs are reported to have been dropped in this attack. Later in the morning the enemy made deliberate attacks on the civilian population of several seaside towns on the Sussex coast, in particular, Eastbourne. Houses wore damaged, but fortunately the number of casualties was small. Early in the afternoon the antiaircraft guns in the London area opened fire on a single enemy aircraft, which Hew away without dropping bombs. This evening another large enemy formation, again mostly fighters, crossed the Kent coast, but did not penetrate any distance inland. It recrossed the coast on the approach of our fighters. THE KING'S BROADCAST MADE FROM SHELTER SPEECH GIVEN DURING RAID WARNING. LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 12.30 p.m,) His Majesty broadcast from the underground shelter at Buckingham Palace during an air raid warning.