WAR SITUATION IN REVIEW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 7

WAR SITUATION IN REVIEW

MR. CHAMBERLAIN’S COMMENT

SUPERIORITY OF AIRCRAFT PROVED

GREAT VALUE OF EMPIRE CO-OPERATION

"DEMONSTRATIONS OF UNITY"

(Elee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 32 noon. RUGBY , Nov. 2. Referring in the House of Commons to-day to . the . vai situation, the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, said: “Activity on the French-German frontier has been confined to the action of local raiding parties and occasional artillery fire. Despite the exceptional cold and wet, the British Expeditionary Force continued to work diligently at its task of strengthening the defences of their section of the line. “We must not forget our numerous garrisons overseas. Though, distant from the immediate scene of war and without the stimulus which its proximity provides, they have to maintain constant vigilance and perform a routine of duty which can never be relaxed. “The war at sea has been comparatively uneventful. Nothing has occurred to shake our confidence in our ability to overcome the submarine menace. Number of Encounters. “During the week there have been a number of encounters with German aircraft, either engaged in reconnaissance or in an attempted attack on convoys. No damage was sustained in these encounters either by our aircraft or ships. The enemy, on the other hand, suffered some loss and the net result has been to confirm the high opinion wc already entertained of the quality of our tighter aircraft and the skill and coinage of their crews. A particularly gallant exploit was the successful reconnaissance flight over north-west Germany during the Avcek, Avhen valuable photographs were secured, some of them taken at a height of no more than 200 ft., despite a heavy and concentrated barrage of anti-aircraft guns.

The Prime Minister described the consultations between the representatives of the Dominion and the Indian Governments, now taking place in London, as “a striking demonstration of the United determination of the Empire,” and said: “The fuller knoAvledge which avc shall now gain of the plans of the different Governments as a result of the presence of their Ministerial representatives here Avill be great value to us. Whole-Hearted Co-operation. “Equally striking is the whole-hearted co-operation we are receiving from all parts of the Empire, including Burma and from the Colonies. The Colonies have not heel' forced into the war by Great Britain against their will. The action of so many peoples of various races is witness to their consciousness that a threat to Great Britain is equally a threat to that freedom and well-being that have beck, assured them under British rule.” Although the Avar effort of the Colonies at the beginning of the Avar Avould be mainly economic, Mr. Chamberlain wished ,to thank all those in the Colonies who had offered personal service. Voluntary offers of service throughout the Empire so far exceeded Britain’s.immediate requirements.

The Loader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, following the Prime Minister, also paid a warm tribute to the spontaneous offers of help from the Empire. He welcomed the arrival in England of the Empire delegates and felt sure that the value of the conversations was not limited to material, but also touched the spiritual side.