THE BRITISH ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1943, Page 4

THE BRITISH ARMY

SLANDEROUS PROPAGANDA RECALLED BY SECRETARY ' ■ FOR WAR (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, November 5. “When we were thrown out of France, after initial successes, defeated in Egypt and ejected from Greece and Crete, forced to surrender Hong Kong and Singapore, forced to abandon Burma —a great many people began to accused the Army and the War Office of incompetence, blindness and even cowardice,” said Sir James Grigg (Secretary for War), speaking at Oxford. “These accusations,” he added, “acquired’ great currency even among our Allies and German and Japanese propagandists did their best io spread them, but the German High Command did not believe them. From time to time we have captured extracts from their intelligence summaries and training manuals, and I Gan assure you that there is no trace in these of belittlement of the British soldier. Quoting General Alexander’s words: “We now have the best Army We have ever had,” Sir J. Grigg added: "It nev&r seems to occur to anyone that such a belittlement is an insult to our Dominions and Colonies. One does not observe among these any sense of shame at being members of the British Empire. Indeed, when war broke out, there was an almost undignified scramble on their part to testify in blood and treasure to their belief in the desirability of this odious association, which, according to critics, has been one long story of spoliation and exploitation.”