NOTABLE FEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20068, 14 October 1939, Page 5

NOTABLE FEAT

BRITISH ARMY MOVE TRANSPORT IN FRANCE FIRST ALLIED VICTORY ENLISTMENT OF ALIENS (British Official Wireless.) Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Oct. 13. The Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, lias revealed that a French military expert has described the transporalion of the British Expeditionary Force to France without a single accident as one of the greatest military feats and the first victory for the Allies in the war. Mr. ITore-Belisha said: “It is an achievement about which, not only the Germans, but the French also were ignorant.”

Regarding the question of many alient in Britain who were anxious to join the British army, Mr. HorcBelish said: “Aliens in the United Kingdom can join the British army Any person resident in the United Kingdom could volunteer for service in tiie army. When classes, are called up we shall be glad to sec in those classes any foreign resident of Britain who desires to be called up if he is within the age limits. In that respect they will be treated exactly the same as British subjects.

“The door is open to all subjects naturally subject to the control of the Home Office. While we have no restrictions of nationality, we are not contemplating forming any foreign legion, such as exists in France, for Poles and. Czechs. In this war we have abolished all distinctions in the army. It is now one army.”