PEOPLE UNITED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21225, 23 September 1940, Page 9

PEOPLE UNITED

GRIM DETERMINATION “BRITAIN WILL WIN” OPINION IN AMERICA (United Pre?s Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 The United States Army Commission, which has returned to New York after a month in London, has reported that the intensive bombings have not done serious military damage and have not affected the morale of the people. Brigadier-General George Strong, spokesman of the commission, said he did not believe there would be a decision this winter. “If the bombings were continued for a year at the same rate as in the last 10 days, the result would probably be serious,” he added, “but the Royal Air Force is not yet at its peak.” Brigadier-General Strong told press representatives, after reporting to the Secretary of State for War, H. L. Stimson, that Britain will be able to defeat Germany after a long war. “The people are united behind Mr Churchill and are cheerful and grimly determined to end the German military domination of Europe,” said Brigadier-Gen-eral Strong. “I believe they can do it.” He paid tribute to the superiority of British pilots, and said the Germans were machine-made and lacked enthusiasm, while the British pilots were highly trained and individual, regarding a combat as a sporting proposition. 192 Planes in One Day Brigadier - General Strong said that from his personal observation and checks he was satisfied British reports on air warfare were substantially correct, and when they erred it was conservatively. Asked whether the British claim to the shooting-down of 185 German aircraft in a single day on September 15 was true. General Strong replied that the actual count was 192 aeroplanes. “The Royal Air Force now has better material and better trained personnel than ever,” said General Strong.

Foreign press representatives in the British capital are being driven to the same conclusion as that reached by Brigadier-Ger.erai Strong.

FREEDOM OF PRESS

HITLER CANNOT SHAKE SPIRIT OF BRITISH PEOPLE (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright! LONDON, Sept. 20 Mr F. P. Bishop, assisting manager of the Times, broadcasting, said: “Hitler would like to destroy Britain’s free press. We are determined that Hitler shall not succeed in prevent us from publishing in London. I think that we can promise that he won’t after the experience of the past fortnight. “We know that the spirit of the people and the newspaper industry is quite unshaken and unshakeable. It is equal to any trials of the war.”

ESPIONAGE IN JAPAN

BRITISH SUBJECT GAOLED EIGHT YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) SHANGHAI, Sept. 21 A British subject, Mr Vincent Oswald Peters, formerly a merchant Marine officer, was convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment at Kobe, Japan.