THE EVE OF WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 8

THE EVE OF WAR

BRITAIN’S READINESS ALL NATIONS PREPARING TRAVELLER'S GLIMPSES “Of all the soldiers I saw in foreign countries none were so well set up, clean and tidy as the British soldier,” said Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, secretary of the Wellington Employers’ Association. who has returned after a world tour. War" preparations were noticed by him in all the countries he visited. "Everywhere I travelled in England.” he said, “the people were resolute and determined to stand firm and fight for justice and right should Germany force war upon the world." England had certainly been roused, and every precaution was being taken to meet war emergencies. Civilians had air raid shelters erected in thengardens and the women of England displayed a wonderful spirit of determination and co-eperation. “If was really wonderful to see all the people so united in their desire to retain their liberty, which has been enjoyed for ages under the British flag,” he said. ‘', v r French and Swiss Calm The people of France, although faced with threats of war, were calm in their everyday work and spoke little of the future; on the other hand they showed a fearless character with determination to stand for right and justice, said Mr. Mountjoy. The Swiss people, continued Mr. Mountjoy, were determined to resist aggression by Germany. Preparations had been made on the Swiss borders for the speedy erection of barriers against invasion, and soldiers had their guns and equipment at home so that the army could be completely mobilised and every man could be at his appointed post within eight hours of the call to arms. One woman Mr. Mountjoy met expressed her determination, if the Germans invaded Switzerland, to put on the Great War uniform of her dead son and fight agamst them. Italian Uniforms fin Italy, said Mr. Mountjoy, cue particularly striking feature was the large number of men seen walking the streets in soldiers’ uniform. Another striking feature was the variety of the uniforms, some being elaborate and effective. “On the outbreak of the war.” said Mr. Mountjoy. “I was in Vancouver, and the people there were in a tense frame of mind. When travelling by train through the Canadian Rockies four days before war was declared I saw that all railway bridges were guarded by soldiers in uniform. ■ “When I was motoring in the outskirts cf Vancouver three days before war was declared the car w.as stopped on a hilltop to see the view of the surrounding country. We alighted from the car and a soldier on guard cn the roadside -politely ordered us back, adding that the authorities had decided that no cars or pedestrians were to be allowed on this site. One could not help feeling that the Canadians were tackling the problems of a prospective war in all seriousness. Americans Pro-British “I found the Americans pro-British; they did not want to take part in another world war,” said Mr. Mountjoy. “Several men of standing with whom I spoke agreed that America would come into the war if Britain got into a fix. Everyone displayed a very keen interest in war affairs and hoped that Britain and France would be successful in maintaining the freedom of all nations.”