HISTORIC ACTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 160, 6 June 1940, Page 8

HISTORIC ACTION

BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE. PREMIER’S ADMIRATION. LONDON, June 4. Presenting to the House of Commons the graphic story of the defence and evacuation of Dunkirk, Mr Churchill said this ivas a great trial of strength between the British and German air forces. i “The Germans were beaten back and we got the Army away. All our fighters and all our pilots were vindicated as superior to tne opposition. When we consider how much greater would have been our advantage in defending the air over the United Kingdom, 1 gain great reassurance from this. “There has never been in nil the world and all the _ history of war such an opportunity for youth. These young men ranked highest of all brave men. “Our losses in the long series of fierce battles exceeded thirty thousand killed, wounded and missing. I stress the sympathy of the House with all bereaved or still anxious. The eon of the President of the Board of Trade (Sir Andrew Duncan) was killed. Many in this House have felt affliction in the sharpest form. “A large number of the wounded have reached home safely and there may be very many reported missing who will reach home 6ome day, one way or another. ENEMY LOSSES. “Against our losses may be set the far heavier loss inflicted oil the enemy. Our losses in material are enormous. We have lost perhaps one-third of the men lost in the opening days,of the battle in March, 1918, but we have lost nearly a thousand guns, all tlio transports and all the armoured vehicles with the Army in the north. . “This loss will further delay the extension of our military strength. “The expansion has’ not been proceeding as fast as we hoped. The best of all we had went to the B.E.F.JThey were a finely equipped Army. COLOSSAL EFFORT. “In an effort the like of which has never been seen records are being made. Work is proceeding everywhere night and day—on Sundays and week-days. Already the flow of munitions has leapt forward and there is no reason why the sudden and serious loss should’ not be overtaken in a few months without retarding the general programme. “Our thankfulness for the escape of our Army must not blind us to the fact that what has happened in Belgium and , France is a colossal military disaster. The French Army has Iveen weakened and the Belgian Army lost. A large part of their fortified lands have gone, and mining districts and factories have passed into German possession. FIGHT TO FINISH. “The whole of the Channel ports are in their hands, but we shall outride the storms of war and outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. That is the resolve of the Government—every man of it. That is the will of Parliament and the nation,” declared the Premier. Replying to a question, Mr Churchill said it might be convenient to hold a secret session on June 11. Mr C. R. Attlee (Lord Privy Seal) announced that Mr Churchill, in his capacity as Minister of Defence, would be assisted by a Defence Committee comprising Mr A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty), Mr II A. Eden (Minister of War), Sir Archibald Sinclair (Minister of Air) and the Chiefs of Staff as advisers.