Evening star., 1941-02-10

mand. and that, In one way or an
other, am sure they will be able to
meet every changing phases of this
truly mortal struggle, and that sus-
tanned by the courage of our mer-
chant seamen and of the dockers
and workmen of all our ports, we
shall OutWit. out-maneuver, out
fight and out last the worst that the
enemvs malice and ingenuity can
ContrlVe.
Once Again Warned
OF Invasion Attempt.
I left the greatest issue TO the
end. You will have seen that Sir
John Dill. our principal military
adviser. the chief of the imperial
general staff. has warned us all yes
terday that Hitler may be forced by
the strategic economic and political
stresses in Europe to try to invade
these islands in the near future.
That is a warning which no one
should disregard. Naturally. we are
working night and day TO have
everything ready. OF course. we are
far stronger than We ever were be-
fore-incomparably stronger than
we were in July, August and Sep
tember.
Our navy is more powerful, our
f1otillas are more numerous. We
are far stronger. actually and rela-
lively. in the air above these islands
than we were when our fighter COM
mand beat off and beat down the
Nazl attack last autumn. Our army
is more numerous. more mobile and
far better equipped and trained
than in September, and still more
than in July.
And I have the greatest conf
dence in our commander-in chief.
Gen. Brooke. and in the proved
ability of the generals under him
who guard the different quarters of
our land. But most of all I put nv
faith in the simple, unaffected re-
solve to conquer or die which will
animate and inspire nearly four
million Britons with serviceable
weapons in their hands.
1t Is not an easy military opera =
ton to invade an island like Great
Britain without the command of the
sea and without the command of the
air and then to face what will be
waiting for the invader here.
But I must drop one word of cau-
tlon' Tor next to cowardice and
treachery, over-confidence leading
70 neglect or Slothfulness is the
worst of martial crimes. Therefore
l crop one word of caution: A Nazi
invasion of Great Britain last au-
tumn would have been a more or less
lmproVlSed affair. Hitler took it for
granted that when France gave in
we should give in. But we did not
give IN. And he had to think again.
Germans Better Prepared
For Invasion Now.
An INVASION now will be supported
oy much more carefully prepared
tackle and equipment of landing
craft and other apparatus. all of
which will have been planned and
manufactured during the winter
months. We must all be prepared
10 meet gas attacks, parachute at
tacks. glider attacks, with constancy.
forethought and practiced skill.
must again emphasize what Gen.
Dill has said and what I pointed
out myself last year: In order to
win the war, Hitler must DESTROY
Great Britain. He may carry
havoc into the Balkan states; he
may tear great provinces out of Rus
sla; he may march to the Caspian:
he may march to the gates of India
All this will avail him nothing. He
may spread his curse more widely
throughout Europe and Asia, but it
will not avert his doom.
With every month that passes. the
many proud and once happy coun-
tries he is now holding down bv
brute force and vile intrigue are
learning to hate the PrusSian yoke
and the Nazi name, as nothing has
ever been hated so fiercely and so
widely among men before. And all
the time, masters of the sea and air,
the British Empire-nay, In a GER
tain sense, the whole English-speak-
ing world-will be on his track bear
ing with them the swords of Justice.
The other day President Roosevelt
gave his opponent in the late presi-
Dental election a letter of 1ntroduc-
ton to me, and In 1t he wrote out a
verse in his own handwriting from
Longfellow which he said, applies
to you people as it does to U.S."
Here is the verse: Sail on, o ship
of state: sail on, o union strong and
great. Humanity with all its fears,
with all the hopes of future years,
is hanging breathless on thy fate"
What is the answer that I shall
give in your name to this great man,
the thrice-chosen head of a nation
of 13O.000,O00?
Here is the answer which I will
give to President Roosevelt:
Put your confidence in us. Give
us your faith and your blessing and
under Providence all will be we'll.
We shall not fail or falter; we shall
not weaken or tire. Neither the sud-
den shock of battle nor the long
drawn trials of vigilance and exer-
ton will wear us down. Give us the
tools and we will finish the lob,