The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-03-05
Stop And Think

"0~~ w 49,
many, has made some plumbers and mis-
takes in this war, but the English are not
leaving their fighting to their friends and
there is altogether too much criticism here
and throughout the United States concern
ing Britain's conduct of the war and the
part the British Empire is playing in it.
Apparently most of this criticism is
based on lack of knowledge and apparently
most of the critics do not realize that such
talk is Nazi inspired and applauded because
it tends to arouse suspicion and mistrust
and hence weakens the unity and strength
of the Allied Cause.
- England, like the United States, was
peace-loving and did not want to get into
was more or less unprepared. What has
she done?
The French fell down on her and her
army would have been smashed had it not
been for miraculous retreat. Following
the fall of France, she withstood for
whole year the German might that shatter
ed many of her cities and industrial towns.
She defended the British Isles against at
tempted invasions
The British Isles are the heart of the
vast British Empire. They are small in
size and have only 100000 people, only
a third as many as the United States and
half the size of Germany. From the Isles
have always come most of her fighting
men. She now has approximately three
million men under arms at home and over
seas and probably 100000 in the whole
Empire. If we had proportionate number,
we would have 100000 men in military
service today, which we do not have.
: The English navy, the largest in the
world is manned almost entirely by men
from the British Isles Her navy has 900
fighting ships that are at sea most of the
time and control the Atlantic and the Med
iterranean.
To date Britain has spent around thirty
billion dollars on the war effort while to
date we have actually spent less than half
that amount. Our per capita cost is around
$115 and England's is around 5000.
During the first World War, the British
Isles lost 7O2O 900 men, and her Empire over
million
England is our "best friend" in this war
to save ourselves. Her people have been
fighting and winning wars for hundreds
of years. Her people will do their part to
help win this war; and criticism here of
the English will not help, but hinder the
united effort. Our job is to do our part in
America in North Carolina and in this
county to help win!
It is not question any longer of what
we can do, but what we will do? Are you
buying defense bonds and stamps? Are you
giving to the Red Cross War Relief fund?
Are you registered for civilian defense SER
vice? Are you serving on the blackout, air
raid warden committees? Are you doing
any sewing. Are you taking first aid
courses? Are you helping or grumbling
about the rationing programs? Do you
have any sons in service? Are you en-
couraging others to enter or are you en-
couraging them to stay out? Are you con-
serving tires and other materials? Are you
planning to produce more food? Are you
helping to collect scrap metal and paper?
You can do all of these things here at
home and more too. If you are not doing
any of them and if you are given only to
criticism, then you are not good, loyal,
patriotic American citizen and it is high
time for you to get busy, if you want the
Allies to win!