CANADIAN FORCES

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20993, 21 December 1939, Page 7

CANADIAN FORCES

ARRIVAL IN BRITAIN WARM TRIBUTE IN PRESS SIGN OF EMPIRE UNITY

(Oracial Wireless) (Received Dec. 21. 11 a.m.) RUGBY. Dec. 20 The arrival of Canadian troops in Britain was the occasion of warm tributes in the press to the enthusiasm which the Dominion brings to the Allied cause and of the close companionship of the British Commonwealth in the war which it demonstrates. The Times emphasises that the troops were entirely recruited by voluntary enlistment and that French-speaking Canadians rallied as eagerly as the English-speaking ones.

“They constitute,” adds the Times, "a citizen force from every province, of all classes and sections, in the coming fight in the defence of the liberty and values which they know to be at stake. It was an undesigned coincidence that their arrival took place on the very day on which in Ottawa an agreement was signed to establish in the Dominion a great Empire air training organisation, planned to turn out some tens of thousands of trained airmen every year, and thus by co-operative effort to win for the Allies predominance in the air similar to that which they already enjoy at sea.” Energy and Resolution The Manchester Guardian says: “Admirable energy and resolution have been shown by Canada in dealing with the embarrassing rush of recruits for service overseas, that have been so swiftly organised into an expeditionary force, supplied and embarked amid all the other demands that the war has made on the Dominion. The men who have now reached Europe herald a contribution on land and air by which the strength of. the Allies will be nobly reinforced.”

STORM OF CRITICISM PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT CENSORSHIP IN BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 20 A new storm of criticism against the censorship has resulted from the premature announcement by the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Winston Churchill, of the arrival of the Canadian forces. The press had given a pledge not to release the news until today. Rousing Cheers Given The news of the arrival of the Canadian Forces in the United Kingdom is enthusiastically greeted in the press, as fresh encouragement to the Allied cause and as convincing proof of the solidarity between the Dominions and Britain. The troops were in high spirits on arrival and responded with rousing cheers to the welcome accorded them. They were greeted by the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr Anthony Eden, and the Canadian Hign Commissioner and high naval and military officers. A Tough Struggle In a brief speech Mr Eden said: “It may be that the struggle in which we are engaged will be long. It certainly will be tough—we aLI know that. But in the assurance of the unity of the peoples of the British Commonwealth is the certainty of final victory. We thank you for your journey, and we wish you all good luck and God-speed.”