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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1942-09-17, Page 6PAGE SD( THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, sEPTBMBER 17, 1942 Great Briain Is Nazi Enemy Number One (By Wickham Steed) Three years ago Great Britain de- clared war on the Third ` German Reich of Adolph Hitler. Why? No act of aggression had been committed against British territories. Hitler was anxious not to come to blows with the British' just then. He was ready—suspiciously ready—to offer respect to British interests if we would leave him' a free hand against Soviet Russia in the East, Britain's relations with Soviet Russia were not then marked by ,to. day's cordial friendship, but a still sound, if obscure instinct warned us against a betrayal of the freedom of Europe which, once it had been re- placed by German domination, would have undermined the basis of freedom of the whole world. Hitler was, in fact, already begin- ning to put his "one by one" plan in- to operation. He meant to control Poland 'as he had already faithlessly seized control of Czechoslovakia, and then make himself master of Russia. He would not then long re- frain from attempting to overthrow the chief remaining obstacle to Ger- man enman mastery of the world—Britain, the head and heart of the British Commonwealth and the main mari- time safeguard of the United States. This was at first only dimly per- ceived in Britain, In September 1938 the British people, through represen- tatives in Parliament, had reluctant- ly accepted the sacrifice of Czecho- slovakia by the Munich Agreement with Hitler as a deliverance from the peril of war. Almost alone of out- standing public men Mr. Winston Churchill had termed it 'an irremed- iable disaster." When, on March 15, 1939, Hitler entered Prague, a revulsion of feel- ing set in. Hitler's "one by one" me- thod of destroying possible oppon- ents began to be understood. So the British pledge to aid Poland against aggression was widely welcomed at the end of March as not only a real- istic undertaking, but as earnest of Britain's determination to resist the growing threat to Europe's freedom. Hitler sulked for a month. Then on April 28', 1939, he tore up both the Anglo -German Naval Agreement of 1935, and his non-agression past of 1934 with the Poles. The scene was set for the conflict he had resolved to provoke. Nevertheless he strove assiduously to keep France and Britain neutral. As we know now, powerful influences in France were on his side. He may have felt sure French hesitation would paralyze the British. Here he was wrong. Our word was pledged, our eyes more than half open, and we were not disposed to evade the great decision. Something higher than any material interest was at stake. Yet hours of anguish, hours of anger preceded the decision. Poland was attacked at dawn on September 1, 1939. Wrath shook the British people on the evening of September 2, when it appeared that not only had we not declared war on Germ- any, but that the Government was still offering to partake of another "settlement by negotiation" if Hitler would recall his troops from Polish soil. In my fifty years of political ex- perience I can remember no uglier moment than that night of Saturday, September 2, 1939—or relief more intense and widespread than that prevailing on Sunday morning, Sep- tember 3, when the nation learned that its word to Poland had been kept by a declaration of war against Germany. In that grim hour Britain stood alone—as she was again to stand in desperate isolation nine months lat- er. France tarried in the brink of in- decision. Members of her Govern- ment were working with and for Hitler, unknown to her people and unknown to us. The coming tragedy of France cast its shadow before. On June 14, 1940, Hitler entered Paris. He planned to enter London on August 15. By that time his aircraft had fought and were losing the Battle of Britain. On August 25, an organ of Dr. Goebbels—"Das Reich" --wrote: , "England has still big resources and she is the toughest and most for- midable enemy—no victory will be of any avail to us, no sacrifice worth while, unless the British are laid low." And Again Hitler Erred This refrain recurred at intervals in the Nazi press; and even on June 23, 1941, the day after Hitler's at- tack on Russia, the leading organ of the Nazi party—Voelkischer Beo- bachter—wrote : "A bitter fight has now broken out on tlie'Hasterii Front—but it doesn't initiate any new war since it is mere- ly./another phase of the struggle against England," The sky used to be the limit for sizes and shapes of tin cans used for fruit •and vegetables or their products. Three years ago there were 115 sizes of cans (see above at left) while on the market today there are only nine, Canada was faced with a metal shortage this year which made it essential to reduce the variety and sizes of cans and the Wartime Prices and Trade Board undertook this job in co- operation with the Department of Agriculture: The work was not as complex as it seems at first glance, however, because three years ago Department of Agricultm•e officials had cut the number manufactured to twenty-two. This was done in the interests of standardization. The new regulation, it is pointed out, will mean that shoppers will no longer be able to get some of the small sizes of cans, but by elimin- ating them the country is conserving 12,000 tons of steel. Those which, in future will be available on grocery shelves are 43, 28, 20, 14, 12, 10 and five ounce (baby food) sizes. Two other cans of 105 and 126 ounces for institution and commercial use will 'also be available. ' Only the imperative necessity of crushing England explains Hitler's onslaught against Russia. He felt that he didn't dare leave an unde- feated Russia at his back. Ill-inform- ed of Russian strength, he imagined that before a British army or 'air force could be built up to withstand a final German offensive, Russian armies would be annihilated, and the whole might of Germany set free for the decisive reckoning with Britain. Again Hitler erred. In December 1941 the Russians turned upon him and brought him to the verge—ashe himself confessed—of total disaster. Yet even after the furious resump- tion of the German offensive this year the Voelkischer Beobachter wrote on July 19: "Whenever there is a short inter- val in the battle we must become fully conscious of the fact that the real enemy is Britain." If I were a Nazi leader I too should have this opinion. Not only is Britain the chief base for constant economic 'war against Germany, and a potential base of dangerous coun- ter -offensive in the West, but British freedom, British institutions, and the whole spirit and principles which were proclaimed from England in the seventeenth century, have inspir- ed the Western civilization that Hit. ler would fain replace by his new creed of "Blood and Soil." Hitler hates the idea of freedom with all the venom of • his diseased megalomaniac mind. He is utterly resolved to extinguish it—as the British are utterly resolved to defend it, He has already triumphed, or be- lieves he has triumphed, over the principles of the great French Revo- lution of 1789, over the freedom. equality and brotherhood announced name. Britain, whose undaunted resist- ance was the foundation on which the United Nations could build up co-ordinated power, will however prove him practically wrong by de- feating his purpose, And tomorrow, September 3, 1942, we may remem- ber thankfully and with steadfast determination the morning of Sep- tember 3, 1939, when literally Bri- tain saved her own soul and led the way in saving the freedom of man- kind. Should be Fewer ' Accidents on Farm number of accidents among workers in agriculture is higher than in any other industry. Many of them could be easily avoided if care were taken to close the hay loft trap door, to fix the broken rung in a ladder and so on. With the labor shortage acute, the difficulties connected with get- ting replacements for farm . machin- ery, the demand for increased pro- duction of food products, there is more need than ever for practising Safety First. Reducing the accident toll will be a definite help in the, war effort on the farm front. The professor of chemistry was giving a demonstration of the prop- erties of various acids. "Now," he. said. "I am going to drop this two shilling piece into htis glass of acid. Will it dssolve?" "No, sir," replied one of the etu dents. "No?" said the demonstrator. "Then perhaps you will explain to the class why it won't dissolve." "Because," came the answer, "if it would dissolve you wouldn't drop it in." John—"I would like to marry ,your, daughter." James—"What's your profession" John—"Traffic policeman." James—"Then it was you who ar- rested me for exceeding the speed limit?" John—"Yes, but of course—" James --"Splendid. I've a chance of revenge at last. I'll let you marry my daughter." Another way to keep from being misunderstood is to do some plain talking. AUCTIONEER F. W. AHRENS, Licensed Auction• eer for Perth and Huron Counties Sales Solicited. Terms on Application, Farm Stock, chattels and real estate Property. R. R. • No. 4,' Mitchell Phone 684 r'6. Apply at this office, HAROLD JACKSON Licensed in Huron and Perth'coun- ties. Prices reasonable; satisfaction guaranteed. For information, write or phone Harold Jackson, phone 14 on 661; R. R. 4, Seaforth. When someone on the farm meets with na accident these days it means more than personal disaster to the individual; It means another man is taken out of the production line of agriculture and there just aren't any men to spare in the industry, To help prevent loss of man power through accidents, officials of the Dominion Department of Agriculture suggest that a farmer spend a few minutes occasidnally checking on the cause of farm aocidents, and .how such accidents can be avoided. 11 is en unpleasant fact that the Counter Check Books We lire Selling Quality Books Books are Well Made, Carbon is Clean and Copies. Readily. All styles, Carbon Leaf and Black Back. Prices as Low as You Can Get Anywhere. Get our Quotation on Your Next Order. • The Seaforth News SEAFORTH, ONTARIO,