Evening star., 1949-04-03

Il expect" he said, that the
Upon this battle depends the sury
The whole fury and might OF the
enemy must very soon be turned
on us. - Let us therefore brace
ourselves to our duties, and so
bear ourselves that. If the British
Empire and its commonwealth
last for a thousand years, men
will say, This was their finest
hour"
In evaluating the year 1910
Mr.. Churchill regards it as the
greatest year in Britain's history.
I'VE may. I am sure" he con-
cludes. rate this tremendous year
as the most splendid. as 1t was
the most deadly. year in our long
English and British story. -
Nothing surpasses 1910. BY the
end of that year this small and
ancient island. with its devoted
commonwealth, dominions and
attachments under every sky. had
proved itself capable Of bearing
the whole impact and weight OF
world destiny. We had not
fiinched or wavered. We had not
failed The soul of the British
people and race had proved in
yincible. The Battle OF
France was lost. The Battle OF
Britain was won. The Battle OF
the Atlantic had now to be
fought"
History-Packed Months.
Between the anticipation and
the realization Of Britain's "f1nest
hour" lay history-packed months,
and the man who guided these
events presents In this second
volume of the classic OF World
War n-serialized in the New
York Times and Life magazine In
recent weeks7the hopes and fears
not only of the British people but
Of the whole free world which
stood against Hitler after his con-
quests in Western Europe.
Mr.. Churchill's technique OF
guiding the vast work Of preparing
against Nazi invasion. Of meeting
the blitz and of rallying the British
people and their leaders around
him for the conduct Of the war
was to inject his interest-if not
actual direction-into every phase
Of the fight. While directing the
strategy of the battle in France,
Belgium and Holland. trying to
strengthen the leaders of France
to continue the fight. dealing with
the blitz and preparing for in
vasion, this gifted statesman was
giving his attention to the ex-
change of British bases for Amer
lean destroyers, preparations for
lend-lease and the worsening sup
ply situation. the struggle against
Italy in Africa and the naval
balance in the Mediterranean.
"Action This Day"
Devoted to the written word in
guiding affairs of state. Mr.
Churchill virtually bombarded his
subordinates with minutes, direc-
tives, suggestions, inquiries and
every sort of memoranda-on
many of which appeared the
emphatic legend. Action this
day" ea.
His correspondence with Pres
ident Roosevelt was voluminous,
his tactics fully respectful of the
Presidents problem of carrying
Congress and the American people
with him in his effort to give
Britain every advantage In the
struggle which he recognized as in
the interest of America as we'll as
Of Britain.
Mr.. Churchill gives the story OF
the negotiation of the destroyers-
for-bases exchange, making IL
clear that whereas on the Amer
ican side the trade had to be
regarded as a contract, an ex-
change of quid pro quo, he never
so regarded it. taking the position
that 1t was nothing more than q
mutual gesture of helpfulness and
support between friends. He re-
veals his anxiety at giving a public
assurance as to disposition of the
British fleet in case of Britain s
defeat-as requested by President
Roosevelt-but he gave that as
surance privately to the President