The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-06-22

NO one knows what the fate OF
this vital military area will be.
| We can lose the war We must
night through TO ultimate victory.
cost what it may"
Those are statements of Captain
Donald s. Leonard commander OF
the Michigan Citizens Defense
| Corps. who gave a forceful ad-
dress at the CleaIy College com.
mencement Saturday evening in
the Hotel Huron, using as his sub
ject Morale in Wartime"
Two Extremes
Americans, said Capt. Leo
nard. must face two extremes, be
prepared for worst and have no.
thing happen, or not be prepared
and have the worst happen" He
said that Japan has been fighting
successfully on several fronts. and
pointed out that this time America
must win decisive victories. Other
wise there may be a conflict every
30 years and civilization may be
wiped out, he warned.
1T is our distinct duty TO build
morale. We must provide tanks,
guns. planes. ammunition. We
should not citrate strikes. We
must go down the pathway to vic
tory with our allies, the speaker
said.
Capt. Leonard was one OF six
people sent on a mission to study
phases OF civilian defense in Eng.
land short time ago and he told
OF the heroic attitude Of the Eng
fish people.
At the time OF Munich, the speak.
er said. people in England still
believed war was avoidable. 1T
wasn't until the collapse OF Bel
ton from Dunkirk that the Brit
ish people were shocked into the
reality of war" he said. Then the
two main factors were TO staye of
invasion and to lay the foundation
for ultimate victory. The collapse
of France is the thing that has
saved civilization" said the speak
err, because Britain was then fore.
ed to retreat and build up its forces,
making the most out of bad situa-
lions.
Morale important
Civilian defense activities were
organized and the soul OF England
would have been crushed IL II were
not for them Capt. Leonard said.
He declared that morale is highly
important, that morale is either
there or not and that victory is
directly dependent upon the morale
Of the people.
The speaker told OF the brave
way British people have rallied
during the emergency and said that
volunteer firemen saved the great.
er part OF London. The magnif-
cent work the women are perform.
ing in industry and in the Army
was cited by Capt. Leonard. The
war has caused terrific "leveling
of" OF classes and people today
are not known by their wealth. but
by how much they are doing to
help beat Hitler, he said
He told OF the NaLi propaganda TO
try to turn Americans from their
Allies, but stated that IL American
aid had not been forthcoming at the
proper time, America might now be
under German rule. The disasters
have taught English people the
value of mutual aid. the speaker
said.
Characterizing the spirit OF the
English, Capt. Leonard quoted
Prime Minister Churchill who said
during the Battle for England" OF
the Royal Air Force. Never has so
much been done by so .. The
speaker pointed out that morale Is
very high and that during the early
bombings, the r. A. = thought
themselves fortunate IL the odds
were only three to one against
them.
Capt. Leonard told o. the flight
by clipper from New York TO Lis
bon and thence II England and
said that once The plane was put
in a steep dive to evade Nazi
planes.
Tea Stressed
The Importance OF tea 10 English
people was. stressed and the SPEAK.
er pointed out that production had
shown an upturn when the plan o.
a ten minute resi- period for tea
every two hours was introduced.
He spoke of the camouflaging
Of the airports and said that they
are painted so that they blend in
with the surrounding area. The
importance of barrage bllmps was
stressed and he said that women
operate the engines which regu.
late the height OF the blimps. Enc.
my planes flying into The tie lines
are helpless, he said.
A soldier in England is always
ready for duty, and even when on
furlough must keep his rifle and
carry full" equipment TO be ready
in case OF invasion, the speaker
said.
In describing a blackout Capt.
Leonard said that there are lights
in the buildings, nut all windows
and doors are carefully screened.
Hoods are placed over street lights
and every effort e made In order
that people can live as normal lives
as possible.
The talk was the highlight OF
very interesting program at which
/ President owen I. Cleary served
as chairman. President EmeTitus
P. r. Cleary gave he welcome and
George Veins served as the able
( toastmaster. Mrs Fannie Banss-
Plymouth. read an original poem
she had composed for the class Of
1912.