MR ANTHONY EDEN’S BROADCAST

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 7

MR ANTHONY EDEN’S BROADCAST

WHOLE STRENGTH OF BRITISH EMPIRE TAKE OFFENSIVE AND STRIKE AT ENEMY

(Official Wireless) (Received Aug. 15, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August 14 Mr Anthony Eden, broadcasting tonight, recalled that in less than a month Britain will have been at war for a year. The Germans were assured by their rulers that the summer of 1940 would see the end of the war. “We think otherwise,” said Mr Eden. “For us the real war, in which the British Empire has put forward the whole of its strength, has hardly begun. For us the real war will begin when we take the offensive and strike home at the enemy.” Much had happened, said Mr Eden, since last he broadcast some six weeks ago, at the time of the great evacuation operation at Dunkirk. Over 200,000 men then evacuated had been sorted out into units and these units had been brought up to strength and re-equipped. Since May 500,000 men had been called up for actual training and after only four or five weeks they were drilling and moving like veterans. “ But our native home forces do not stand alone,” he continued. “We have Canadians, Australian and New Zealand troops with us and everybody knows what that means in vigorous fighting strength. We have a contingent of French troops, Czechs, Norwegians, Belgians and Dutch, all eager for our first great counter-attack, because that is what the successful defence of our island must prove to be.” Referring to the Home Guard, now over 1,500,000 strong, Mr Eden said his expectations had been far exceeded.

The Battle for Britain

“ The second phase of the Battle for Britain,” said Mr Eden, “ appears to be opening. VV'e have made no boasts but we feel quiet confidence. There were those in Germany who contended that overwhelming air power, without sea power, was a possible means of achieving victory, but vastly superior sea power, with rapidly growing air power, Is a much more likely means. That is our position, and that is one of the reasons why the chances of victory are more in our favour than that of Germany. “ The superior power at sea which we possess, and in the air we are determined to reach, combined with the ever-increasing army, will secure our victory. The proper use of this power for striking the enemy in each of these spheres is the way we shall win the war.” Concluding, the War Minister referred to the future. Hitler wanted a new order for Europe—a Europe under his control. Britain, too, wanted a new order, but an order of a very different kind—really a new order throughout the world, in partnership with other nations, nations free to direct their lives, free to make their choice. “We know that all nations now forced to yield to German pressure desire our victory, so that they may freely make that choice,” said Mr Eden.