BOMBING OF BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 5

BOMBING OF BRITAIN

EXAGGERATED NAZI REPORTS THAT STUBBORN BRITISH CHARACTER A refutation of Nazi propaganda as to “ smashing victories ” against tha British Isles, together with an instance of the stubborn British character. Is contained in a letter received by a Dunedin business man from a correspondent in a leading English shipbuilding town. The letter is dated early in August. “ The R.A.F. must have very few! idle moments now,” the writer states, “ and the good account they are rendering of their prowess gives a feeling of pride to our country and dismay to the enemy. If you hear any of tha Nazi radio expositions you must ha much alarmed by the blood-curdling reports they send forth. Dismiss them without hesitation. Here we are in tha midst of the busiest shipping and munitions works in the country and we ara reported to be ‘ starving,’ ‘in revolt against the country ■ for continuing tha war,’ our city ‘in ruins,’ and all industries of the north devastated and laid waste.’ “ While we have almost nightly visits from the Hun planes, not a single factory has yet’ been struck, i Bombs dropped indiscriminately over towns have done some material damage, and some casualties have occurred, but nothing in comparison with which ia claimed, and the morale of the populace is unshaken. Domestically wo lack nothing and people go.about their ordinary occupations quite indifferent to the terrible throats that have been promised us. Well, no one can toll what may happen, but up till now tha German’ reports of their successes ini this isle have been grossly exaggerated. Our country is an armed camp, and many irksome restrictions have had to be imposed, but they are necessary, and the public’makes no demure. The happiest of relations exist with all tha strict military action, however stringent it may he. “ Our restrictions and rationing are proving successful in keeping extravagance in check, and consequently things in general arc much more costly, but then one can always cut out what' is not absolutely necessary, and no ona is suffering inconvenience or need do so. “ Pleased to say M. has benefited by the finer weather, and no amount of persuasion can tempt her to go on holiday to a safer locality. She is so stubbornly British. Dozens of others round about us have evacuated their families into safer areas. When I point this out to her she replies. ‘ Ay. lad, hut they’re yellow. If we have to go we'H go white as we have always tried to live that colour! ’ One can’t argue with a woman like that, can one? ”