SELF-DEPRECIATION

Evening Star, Issue 24293, 7 September 1942, Page 3

SELF-DEPRECIATION

BRITAIN'S NATIONAL HABIT DEPRECATED WAR AGHIEVEMENTS N 0 MEAN EFFORT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 6. In a review of British achievements in the war and aims for the future, Mr C. R. Attlee said the third anniversary of the outbreak had been observed rightly as a day of prayer, but ho also considered it should have been for all of us a day of thanksgiving because we had been brought so far in safety through so many perils. We were inclined at times, ho said, to do ourselves less than justice in the eyes of the world. We had the national habit of depreciating our own efforts and praising those or others. The British to-day were _ regarded ■ rightly as the rock upon which other peoples less fortunate could ■ found their hopes of regaining their freedom. If wo constantly affirmed that we were not a hard rock but crumbling sandstone there was a depressing effect on our friends, who were apt to take us at our own valuation. Mr Attlee then proceeded to give some details of British successes and achievement in the present conflict in all theatres of war. This habit of selfdepreciation was. resented by many of our friends and allies, he said. He knew many statesmen and soldiers from the Dominions who, while appreciating the well-deserved tributes paid to the dominion forces, felt that Britain tended to do less than justice to her own men. Actually 70 per cent, of all the casualties suffered by the armies of the British Empire were suffered by troops from the United Kingdom. Our industrial effort in this war had also been a great achievement, he said. In the provision of materials for war the old lion had done the lion’s share of work during these critical years. He had heard criticism of British shipbuilding, hut it was worth noting that with fewer yards and less labour, also despite the handicaps of the blackout, wo had produced more tonnage last year than in the best year of the last ivar. Surely, taking one thing and another, we had the right to ho proud of our industrial effort. After paying tribute to the services oi the different countries in the British Commonwealth in the war and outlining British progress in social legislation, Mr Attlee said: “Wo are all supremely devoted to winning tho war, but we also recognise that we have to win the peace and preserve our civil and religious liberty as well. To this end we must think and plan, and we should prepare for the work which awaits us when peace comes.”

HEAVY RAID ON BREMEN FIRES STILL BURNING (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 5. An Air Ministry communique states: “ Last night a strong formation of our bombers attacked the port of Bremen. Heavy-weight bombs were dropped, and many fires were left (burning. Fighter Command aircraft were over Northern France during the night. Eleven aircraft of the Bomber Command are missing.” The raid on Bremen was the ninetyninth carried out in that area since the beginning of the war, the raidls including one by 1,000 bombers on June 25. Reconnaissance at 10 a.m. to-day revealed that fires were still burning in the commercial centre of Bremen. When our bombers attacked the docks the river and the town wore easily seen, and the first planes started fires that revealed the whole area. The attack was limited to half an hour, hut the last bomber crews saw that the fires had taken a widespread hold. Anti-aircraft fire was very intense. One .crew reported an attack (by a Junkers 88, which was hit and rolled down towards the sea.

ESSEN WAR WORKERS LONDON. September 5-. ' The concession of four week’s double holiday for Essen war workers is believed to be an attempt to offset the effects of the 1,000-bomber raids. The Berlin radio says; “The German Labour Front has arranged to send these deserving workers to recreation homes in various parts of the country for restful leave.” THE ATTACK ON ROUEN VICHY'S ESTIKATE OF CASUALTIES (Rec. 12.55 p.m.) VICHY, Sept. 6. Eighty people were killed and 117 injured as a result of the Allied air raid on Rouen on Saturday. Many were trapped under the ruins of houses. Laval telegraphed to the Mayor of Rouen congratulating the citizens on their fortitude “ against the new and odious aggression.!’ BOMBING OF LONDON FIRES DURING GREAT BLITZ LONDON, September 5. It is now possible to disclose that the Luftwaffe on May 10, 1941, started 2,850 fires in London, many of which merged. Seventeen hundred were started in London on December 8, 1940; 1,980 on March 27, 1941, and 2,550 on April 16, 1941.