Winter Welcomed In England

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21248, 19 October 1940, Page 11 (Supplement)

Winter Welcomed In England

Invasion Lessened :: Autumn No Deterrent

TDEOPLE IN ENGLAND are eagerly tearing leaves from their calendars now. They want the sunny days to speed away and gray days to come, that Herr Hitler may be prevented from trying to invade England. But is autumn really England’s ally, or is that only wishful thinking? Have Europe’s great soldiers fought according to the calendar? Did Napoleon, Charles Martel, Gustavus Adolphus, Nelson ask the equinoxes when they should give battle? History shows that many of the greatest battles have taken place in September and October, a few even in the middle of winter. It also shows conquerors fear the Channel after September.

many of his boats. He pressed into England, with large forces, but did not subdue the island. He feared being cut off. He was glad to leave before winter came. Weather was a very vital factor in Caesar’s campaign against England. Many exceedingly important battles have been fought in the autumn and later. The Russo-Japanese war began in February. Port Arthur fell the following January; the battle of Mukden was fought in February. Balkan Fighting in Snow The Balkan States began their 1912 war against Turkey on October 18. Some of the fiercest fighting was in the snow. The Russians took Plevna from the Turks on December 10, and the climate of Plevna is the same as of Chicago. King Gustavus Adolphus won his great victory at Lutzen, where he also succumbed on November 15. It was in late September that the French revolutionists won their extremely important victory at Valmy. Charles Martel turned the Moslems back from France at Tours in October. Emperor Augustus lost his army at Teutoberger Wald in the autumn and all winter wailed, “ Varro, give me back my legions.” Napoleon often fought in the autumn and winter. Austerlitz took place in December; Jena on October 14; the Battle of Nations near Leipzig during the second half of October. Napoleon’s invasion of Russia began in late summer and movejd to catastrophic climax in early winter. One may say that October has provided very good fighting weather, and that as a rule winter brings a lull in campaigns. Also, after the end of September, Europe’s great soldiers have feared the Channel. If the English King. Harold, had not fought a pitched battle with William in October, but had harassed him as the Russians did Napoleon. William might never had become the “ Conqueror.” His army would have been completely isolated from the continent and would have had great difficulties in finding supplies in hostile England. If Herr Hitler should attempt an invasion now. he will take a risk that no great military leader dared. History seldom repeats itself exactly, but it is quite constant and it shows that after September an invasion of- England becomes very much more difficult. The Equinox has been England millennial ally.

The vital battle of Trafalgar was fought on October 21. Lepanto, which was one of the most important naval encounters ol the sixteenth century, took place on October 5; the great sea battle of Navarino on October 20. Since these were fought in southern waters the dates are not so significant.

But the last invasion of England, namely, that of William the Conqueror, was at the end of September, 1066. He had spent the summer furiously building ships and he collected them at many of the same harbours, in which Prime Minister Churchill says Herr Hitler has collected his. William’s boats were small and he had to wait many days for a favourable wind to arise and blow him across the Channel. He had only a few thousand soldiers with him, but they were excellent troops. It was a formidable army. They landed unopposed and fought the famous Battle of Hastings, on October 14. England was full of extremely aggressive fifth columnists at the time. It was in the summer that Spain sent its great Armada against England. But July storms then proved as# furious as January ones usually do. Caesar invaded England twice, 1995 and 1994 years ago. He made both crossings in the summer. His first landing was difficult. English chariots raced along the shore, watching Caesar's ships and caused him much annoyance. Chariots could move as fast as boats. They were the tanks of the day. Autumn storms caused Caesar’s first expedition to return to the Continent before it achieved much

The second expedition was better prepared, but even then storms destroyed

He who knows and knows not that he He who knows not and knows that he knows is asleep—awaken him. knows not is simple—teach him