BRITAIN’S SONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20067, 13 October 1939, Page 11

BRITAIN’S SONS

FOLLOWING FATHERS SIMILAR TENACITY COURAGE—ENDURANCE FAITH OF MINISTER (Eloc. Tel. Copyright-—United Tress Assy.) (Reed. Oct. 12, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 11. During his review in the House of Commons to-day of the British military contribution to the Allied cause, the Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, said that Britain had at present the best part of 1,000,000 men who could be called on. In view of the prospect of three years of war, it was essential that all the reserves should not be used immediately. The Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service, already 20.00 strong, was being augmented. Mr. Hore-Belisha announced that General Sir John Greer Dill, commanding the First Corps, said that the unity of the command had been assured. The British Army was under the French command, but the British Commander-in-Chief had the right to appeal to the Cabinet. In normal circumstances this was unlikely to be necessary, because the understanding was complete and whole-hearted in every particular. It was even possible that French troops might be under the British Commander-in-Chief. | The Minister, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, added that while the world was reading of the German advances in Poland the British soldiers, resolved to rectify this wrong, were passing silently and in unceasing sequence across the j Channel. Sons were now treading soil in France made sacred by their fathers. "We may be assured that they will i acquit themselves with the same tenacity, courage and endurance,” said Mr. Hore-Belisha.