ACUTE DANGER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 June 1939, Page 8

ACUTE DANGER

STRESSED BY MR WINSTON CHURCHILL WAR NOT CERTAIN BUT GERMAN PREPARATIONS MENACING. HITLER URGED TO TAKE THOUGHT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 28. Air 'Winston Churchill, in a speech at the City Carlton -Club, said: “We must all consider -Inly, August and September as the months when tension in Europe will become most severe. I am in entire accord with M. Daladier that we are in a period of danger more acute and more heavily laden with ugly facts titan any period in living memory. I take a most serious view of the position in which we find ourselves. It is similar to what happened last year, but with a very important difference — this year no means of retreat are open.” Mr Churchill added: “I do not consider, war certain, although if one considered only German preparations, the tone of the German Press and speeches by Nazi leaders, there is no possible conclusion but that the worst will happen quite soon. The brute fact staring us in the face is that, in view of Britain’s absolute guarantee to Poland, Britain and France would be forced to declare war should Poland be subjected to unprovoked attack by Germany. It is important to. remember that we never guaranteed the security of Czechoslovakia last year. The Nazis are making all preparations to force Poland to yield to their demands. If Poland does not yield, preparations are going on night and day to attack her with large forces from the west and south.” Mr Churchill said he was not deceived over the meaning of the German Army manoeuvres last year. He did not want the British to be deceived this year. The forces of aggressibn were actually gathered. It was said that nothing would happen - until after the harvest, but that was not- far away. He was in a position to know that there was a state of extreme vigilance in Britain’s defence forces, particularly the Ail’ Force. "I wish I could convince Herr Hitler,” he said, “that the British Empire hiis reached the-limit of its patience. I ask Herr Hitler to consider whether his life’s work may not be irretrievably cast away. I trust British air strength will not be under-rated in certain quarters. The Navy is stronger than qt the beginning of the Great War and our young militiamen are of a higher physical standard,”