‘File 28/7 I War: Propaganda: local opinion’ [‎12r] (28/664)

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HE DOMINIONS FOLLOW SUIT. * Similrr legislftion is to be introduced into
■f ew Zeelcnd on June 1st; Ccnedc, too, announces that the same sweeping
obilization of services and property is under review. South Afriar.
nder her Defence Act, authorises officers of the Armed Forces and *
. ublic services to requisition buildings, food, forage and vehicles as
equired. U
UICK OFF THE MARK. On May 23rd the Canadian 'Premier announced hia
ffer "to forward atonce to the United Kingdom all aeroplanes of a
ertain type now available." His offer was a.cceptedo Canadian assistance
n the form of machines and pilots for the B./hFc was forwarded
mined lately.
NDIA|s EFFORT. Capping her previous generous gifts of men, money and
a.terial > resources, India, through the mouth of Mr.Ghandi, contributes
' er spiritual sympathy, "The British are a brave and proid^people," he
laid,/'well able to cope with any difficulty that may face them."
eterial contributions back his words. India is lo equip forces to the
sximum of her capacity, to form further squadrons of the Indian Air
orce, and to raise them from her 300 million inhabitants numbers of
echenised, engineering and infantry forces.
f umpire DAY. 1940. Empire Day, May 24th, falling at a moment of crisis
n the British Empire’s history, was a mark even more moving than usual
f the invisible bonds which unite the imperial community. The voice of
he King, speaking from London, constituted the tangible link between
.is peoples, and .from all parts of the earth came news of unity and
etermination to prevent "the spread of the blot of barbarism over the
hole map of the world."
iritain’s Para shots. The new Parashot Army is one of the most visible
lings of the quickened war effort in Great Britain. Patrols formed
‘rom the first 400,000 men who responded to the w?r Office appeal are
Iready out on the roads and over the countryside. They are now being
*e-aaforced by mobile columns of well-trained, splendidly equipped
,roops. These they can at a momenta notice summon to their aid. To
he mobile columns, the Pafashot Army will bear a relation which
jfcomises to be as firm as that between the old Regular and Territorial
armies.
II. BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES.
3QU-ANDERED LIVES, /'ll reports from the western front confirm the view
hat Nazi plans have been laid without thought for expenditure of life.
*itler seems to have reckoned that, with eighty millions at his disposal,
xe can well afford to fling away one million lives, or two, or three.
The policy is fully in keeping with his past utterances: t /
"We must be prepared for the hardest struggle that a nation
has ever had to face. Only through this test of endurance
can we become ripe for the dominion to which we are called.
It will be my duty to carry on this war regardless of losses."
*, (Address to party leaders quoted by Dr.Hermann Rauschning,
Hitler speaks, p.281).
?HalfVA*Million Casualties in less than three weeks." The haste and
indignation with which the Nazi press and wireless denied the Franco*
American estimate suggestd.that news from foreign sources is still
filtering into Germany, arid that the German High Command is highly
sensitive on the score of the losses it has occurred.
•'
CONCEALMENT OF LG3S is contrived by sending all wounded to hospitals
remote from their home area. The schools and institutions of
Austria Styria are reliably reported to be full of North German
' casualties.
FUEL FOR ATTACK. "One wonders how long the Germans can stand this
reckless pace: how long Hitler's war machine can continue to burn
gasoline at a rate variously estimated at between 750,000 and 1,500,000
gallons a day." (New York Times, May 23th e ) With his booty offset by