THE ROYAL NAVY

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21373, 18 March 1941, Page 5

THE ROYAL NAVY

COURAGE AND SKILL READY FOR INVASION BIG ATTACKS EXPECTED (Lnitcd Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 16 The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A. V. Alexander, speaking at Torquay, emphasised that the war today was a matter of weapons, says a British official wireless message. The Navy, faced with the task of covering the seven seas and subjected, he said, to unprecedented forms of attack, had shown courage, devotion and skill beyond words to praise it, but without the weapons it needed not even the magnificent qualities of all ranks would suffice. The successes in North and East Africa were another illustration of the importance of material in modern fighting, the First Lord of the Admiralty continued.

Mr Alexander said that he ex- j pected the launching by Hitler this year of the most ruthless attacks by land, air and sea, which would bring | damage, loss and tribulation. The j British people faced this prospect | with courage and fortitude. They j remembered the recovery which their country had made from the reverses ! which culminated in the collapse of ] France. Who last summer would i have believed that by now Britain | would have established victorious: forces in the Middle East, and have j delivered crippling blows to the Italians on many fronts, while the; Royal Navy held the Mediterranean in its grip ? Ruthless Dictatorship The British people also took note of and lifted up their hearts at the fact that the people of the great democracy of the west had made it clear beyond doubt that, under the leadership of an outstanding world statesman, they would not contemplate for a moment the defeat of democracy and freedom by the ruthless and cruel dictatorship of Europe, continued Mr Alexander. If he might paraphase the words of William Pitt, he added: “We fight for all that is worth living for on this side of the grave, not only for ourselves, but for all people, and we desire no territorial gains. We desire no victories as a subject of vain boasting, but recognising the immensity of the threat to our liberties, knowing that man’s will is to be free, and that he will fight ultimately until he is free, we apply ourselves to the task, feeling certain that by God’s grace the time will come when that freedom shall be established for us, and shall be restored to those who have for the moment lost it. and that the cruel opposition of religious and racial ideals shall be ended.” AWARDS TO AIRMEN LONG LIST OF HONOURS (Omcial Wireless) (Received March 18, noon) RUGBY, March 17 Squadron-Leader R. M. Longmore, son of Air Chief Marshal Sir A, Longmore, Air Officer Commanding in the Middle East, is among the many Royal Air Force personnel whose services are recognised in the latest list of awards. Squadron-Leader Longmore was bom in 1915 and was commissioned from Cranwell in 1935. He received the Order of the British Empire. The awards range through almost every rank of the service. Air Vice-Marshal N. H. Bottomley, F. J. Linell, H. R. M. Reid and R. E. Saul received the C.B. Acting Air-Vice Marshal C. R. Bromet, Air Commodore E. S. Goodwin and Group Captain G. M. Lawson received the C. 8., and 44 officers have been awarded the 0.8. E. ITALIANS FOILED I “ | BRITISH AIRMAN ESCAPES RESCUED BY GREEKS (United press asso. —Elec. Tel. CopyrlgtU) ATHENS, March 16 The Greek newspaper Elefthonvima says a British airman who baled out over “ no man’s land ” came down safely near the Italian lines. The Italians prepared to capture him, but Greek soldiers sprang from their positions, drove off the Italians, and in triumph carried back the rescued airman.