IMPERIAL TEST.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 257, 27 September 1940, Page 7

IMPERIAL TEST.

ROLE FOR WHOLE EMPIRE. DOMINIONS’ PART. (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 12.25 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 26. Air-Marshal Bishop, the famous Y.C. airman of the last war, in a broadcast said it was a great thrill to be speaking on British soil when, only a few da vs ago, he was in Canada. Recalling a quarter of a century ago, when he was “doing his humble best towards victory,” Air-Marshal Bishop said we then had difficult and unequal fighting in the skies. “But,” he continued, “22 years we drove the pirate Huns out of toe j skies of Europe.” The Empire, said Air-Marshal Bishop, was on tlie march, and with Britain tnrough and through. “As the months go by,” he added, “there will be trained pilots in thousands coming to Britain to do again what their lor boars did before.” Speaking of the Empire air training scheme, which lie said was far ahead of schedule, Air-Marshal Bishop said : “The Empire plan will bring from our Canadian* shores the trained aviators of our sister Dominions of Australia and New Zealand and our own Dominion of Canada. Men from all parts of the Empire will train together as, later on, they will fight together. It will be an air force which is truly an Empire air force, binding the glorious ties of the Empire which, in the words of Burke, are as light as air but as strong as links of iron.” v He concluded: “Tonight we think again of the Britain of 1805 girding herself to meet Napoleon, the conqueror of Europe—as you gird yourselves now to meet Hitler, the conqueror of half of Europe. • “The role that once belonged to the Mother of our Empire alone now belongs to all the Empire. A heavy load of responsibility now falls upon the commonwealth of democratic peoples. I repeat that from Canada I bring you o-ood cheer and a message of courage. Wc* who up till now have had an easier task admire more than ever before the great and hard task which has been yours.

“I bring you the greetings of Canada—of Canadians with you until final victory is achieved. We in Canada say Britain yet shall stand ■ and the Empire emerge from these times of trouble a greatyr, more vital, and more decisive factor in world history than ever before.”