SALUTE THE HEROES

Evening Star, Issue 23695, 1 October 1940, Page 6

SALUTE THE HEROES

PUISSANT SPIRIT OF THE R.A.F. BRITAIN'S DEFENCE [From Our London Correspondent.] August 22. x We have yet to discover whether the intensified German air raids, now extended to the London area, are meant to be an end in themselves, or whether they cover some ulterior invasion purpose. Though it is not easy to understand how these visitations, so expensive to the authors and so little disturbing hitherto to us, can be expected to assist a big invasion plan. Still we must assume that Hitler and his higher command know their own business best, as assuredly we know ours. No air raids elsewhere divert us from our steadfast coastal defence plan, and our air reconnaissance is not in any way affected. Meanwhile, the British people salute with one accord and with genuine homage those valiant young heroes, with a sprinkling of the older veterans, whose intrepid hearts and wings stand alone between us and the fate that overwhelmed Poland almost in a night. We mourn that so many of these puissant spirits have given their splendid lives for us and for the world’s freedom. But we exult in the prowess that has exacted such grim casualties from Germany. In little over a week our R.A.P. heroes have sent half a thousand Nazi warplanes crashing to their doom. Not only are our elaborate coastal defences now ready for any emergency, but the still more elaborate interior defences are surprise-proof. However and whenever the Germans come, or try to come, they will encounter a grim reception. The spirit of our troops may perhaps best be conveyed by a simple statement of fact. The troops behind the coastal defences are stoutly contending that, instead of biffing the invaders back from the foreshore, we should allow them to land. That way, argue these deep strategists, pining for a fight, there will be much more chance of killing them off in satisfactory numbers. There is an idea, which may or may not he pure fanciful conjecture, that Hitler’s invasion coup may be timed to synchronise with Mussolini’s thrust against Egypt. There are still doubts whether simultaneously we are to have a bid for Gib. One thing puzzles the detached onlooker. If Hitler seriously contemplates having a smack at us, with any hope of success, why all this elaborate propaganda to cast the blame for Europe’s winter starvation on Britain? It seems redundant.