Evening star., 1941-04-28

LONDON. April 2S (P.-The
tert OF Prime Minister Winston
ChurchilFS speech last night fol-
lo,CS.
was asked last week whether
! was aware of some uneasiness
which it was said existed in the
country on account of the grav-
tty. as 1t was described, of the
war situation.
So I thought it would be a
good thing to 60 and see for my
self what this uneasiness amount
ed to.
I went to some of our great
cities and Seaports which have
been most heavily bombed and
10 some of the places where the
poorest people have got it worst.
have come back not only re-
assured but refreshed. To leave
the Offices in Whitehall with their
eesseless hum of activity and
stress and go out to the front,
by which I mean the streets and
vharves of London, Liverpool,
Manchester. Cardiff, Swansea or
Bristol, is like going out Of a hot
house onto the bridge of a fight
ing ship.
1t is a tonic I should recon-
mend to any who are suffering
from fretfulness to take in strong
doses when they have need OF
it. 1t is quite true l have seen
many painful scenes OF havoc
and fine buildings and acres OF
cottage homes blasted into rub
bic and heaps of ruins, but 1t Is
lust in those very places where
the malice of the savage enemy
has done its worst and where the
ordeal of men, women and chill
dren has been most severe that
I found their morale most high
and splendid.
Indeed I feel encompassed by
an exaltation of spirit in the peo-
nle which seems to lift mankind
and it's troubles above level ma
terial facts-indeed that joyous
serenity we think belongs to a
better world than this.
Of their kindness to me can
not speak because I never sought
1t or dreamt of it and can never
deserve it. I can only assure
YOU that and my colleagues or
comrades rather, for that is
what they are. will toll with
every scrap of life and strength
according to the lights that are
granted to us, not to fail these
people or be wholly unworthy OF
their faithful and generous re-
gard.
Ordeal by Fire
Exhilarates People.
The British nation Is stirred
and moved as it never has been
at any time in its long, eventful
and famous history and 1t is no
hackneyed figure of speech to
say they mean to conquer or die.
What a triumph life in these
battered cities is over the worst
that fire and bomb can do! What
vindication of the civilized and
decent way of living we have
been trying to work for and work
towards in our island!
What a proof of fortitude OF
free institutions! What test
OF the quality of our local au-
thorities and of the customs and
societies so sturdily built!
This ordeal by fire is in a cer-
tain sense even exhilarating the
manhood and womanhood of
Britain.
The sublime but also terrible
experiences and emotions Of the
battlefield which for centuries
have been reserved for soldiers
and sailors now are shared for
good or i'll by the entire popula-
ton. All are proud to be under
the fire Of the enemy.
Old men, little children, the
crippled, the veterans OF former
wars. aged women, the ordinary
hardpressed citizen or subject of
the King as he likes to call him
self, the sturdy workman with his
hammer In shipyard, skilled
craftsman, members of every
kind of A. r. P. service, are proud
to feel that they stand in line to-
sether with our fighting men,
when one of the greatest causes
is being fought out, as fought out
II will be to the end.
This indeed Is grand and
heroic period in our history and
the light OF glory shines upon all
Feels Responsibilities
Toward People.
You may imagine how deeply
feel my own responsibility
toward all these people, my
responsibility to bear my part IN
bringing them safely out this
long, stern, scowling valley
through which we are march
ing and not to demand Of them
that their sacrifices should be in
vain.
I have thought in this difficult
period when so much fighting
and so many critical and COM
olic,ted roaneuverS are going on
that it has been imperative that
our policy and conduct should
be upon the highest level and
that honor should be our guide.
Very few people realize how
small were the forces with which
Gen. Wavell-that fine COM
mander whom we cheered in
good days and will back through
bad-How small were the forces
which took the bulk of the