WARNING TO HITLER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1940, Page 9

WARNING TO HITLER

“BEWARE OF THE SEA.” An unsigned article which appears in the Hearst newspapers, and is generally attributed to Mr William Randolph Hearst warns Hitler not to attempt the conquest of the British Empire. Likening the Nazi hordes to the lemmings, the “rats of Norway." which swim out into the North Sea in a vain attempt to reach the shores of Scotland. and drown on their way. it goes on: "Herr Hitler —Chancellor Hitler — General Hitler —Imperator Hitler —beware of the sea. You have marched successfully across the lands, over the hills and dales, overcoming all difficulties. You are a victor as far as you have gone. You are one of the great conquerors of the world. But beware of the sea! The sea is a great conqueror. It can engulf armies, as it engulfed the hosts of Pharaoh. It can swallow up the invaders of its isles, as it swallows up the fool-hardy little lemmings. The might of Spain wrecked itself upon the sea. The power of Portugal sank itself into the sea. The force of Holland. and France beat themselves to froth and fragments on the wave-worn chalk cliffs of England. The sea protects its own. "Beware of the sea! It has been for centuries the defence of the maritime nations. It has been not only the main defence of the British Empire, but of America as well. Those nations which have tamed the sea have made it part of their dominion." Urging Hitler to make peace —a peace of generosity and justice, long and stable —the writer says that Hitler should not make another war certain by terms that arc harsher than those imposed at Versailles, and concludes: "No victory of force will last a thousand years. No peace of injustice will endure even a generation. March no more across the land with brutal tread; crush no more with iron heel the helpless nations of the earth. Stand firmly cn the ground of peace and equity; turn back from further venturing! You have reached the sea!"