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Aviation History
1939
1939-1- - 0701.PDF
AIRCRAFT ENGINEER FIRST AERONAUTICAL WEEKLY IN THE WORLD .• FOUNDED 1909 Editor C. M. POULSEN Managing Editor G. GEOFFREY SMITH Chief Photographer JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: Telegrams : Truditur, Sedist, London. DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.I Telephone : Waterloo 3333 (50 lines). 8-10, CORPORATION ST., COVENTRY. Telegrams: Autocar, Coventry. Telephone: Coventry 5210. GUILDHALL BUILDINGS. NAVIGATION ST.. BIRMINGHAM, 2. Telegrams: Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone: Midland 2971 (5 lines). 260, DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER, 3. Telegrams: Iliffe, Manchester. Telephone: Blackfriars 4412. 26B. RENFIELD ST., GLASGOW, 0.2. Telegrams: Iliffe, Glasgow. Telephone : Central 4857. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Home and Canada: Other Countries: Year, £1 13 0. Year, £1 16 0. 6 months, 16s. 6d. 6 months, 18s. Od. 3 months, 8s. 6d. 3 months, 9s. Od, No. 1602. Vol. XXXVI. SEPTEMBER 7, 1939. Thursdays, Price 6d. The Outlook. War T HE long period of suspense, Hitler's "war of nerves," came to an end with Britain's declara tion of war on Germany on Sunday morning last, September 3. There is no doubt that the most general feeling among British people was one of relief that the die had been cast and all uncertainty was over. War is horrible, as all who remember the last know well enough, but there is one thing worse than war, and that is to be unwilling to fight for one's principles. Last September war was avoided, and it may well be that no other course than that followed was possible for France and Britain; but none the less a sense of shame was almost universally felt. The complete suppression of Czechoslovakia followed as a matter of course, and other examples of Nazi bullying have succeeded. The time had to come when Britain and France must make a stand, and that time has now arrived. Our only regret is that we could not have made our stand in time to save the gallant Czechs. We must hope that the result of this war will see their country set free again, If last year we were weak, now we and France are very strong, on the sea, on the land, and in the air. The resources of the world are open to the Allies who rule the waves, and our credit is almost unlimited. The right eousness of our cause not only inspires our people and our forces, but it has won the deep sympathy of the rest of the world. Last September the press of the United States could scarcely restrain its contempt for the surren der to force of France and Britain; now it whole-heart edly applauds our action and hopes for our victory. "Thrice is he armed who has his quarrel just." It is a familiar quotation, but none the less true. With rever ent conviction we feel that the God of Righteousness is on our side. Eastern Europe W E pay full tribute to the brave Poles who are manfully resisting the onset of the German forces. It is a strange turn of Fortune's wheel which sees Britain and Poland as allies in war, but the relation between the Poles and the French is historical. Poles fought in the armies of Napoleon. Soon we hope strong relief may be brought to that country by the forces of Britain and France, though it remains to be seen what form that help will take. At least Germany will not be able to throw the whole weight of her large army on to her eastern frontier when her two strongest foes lie on the west. We must not forget other nations in the Near East who are bound to us in friendship, though not yet in military alliance. Turkey is a friend of the very greatest value, and she is now, thanks to the late Ataturk, a very much more formidable Power than she was during the last war. Greece is another good friend, small but very gallant in war, and the use of her harbours in the Medi terranean is an important asset. We have also guaran teed the independence of Rumania, on whose oil wells Germany has long cast covetous eyes. She possesses ports on the Black Sea which may play a vital part be fore the war is over. Egypt and Iraq are on our side. Hungary and Yugo-Slavia have displayed a natural desire to remain neutral, but neither of them relishes the idea of being swallowed up by the German ogre. Of their sympathies we need have no doubt. The Mediterranean AS we surmised in our last issue, Italy has not joined forces with Germany in this war. She has shown ' prudence, and we, for our part, are very glad not to have to fight against our old allies. Had we gone much further than we did in cutting down our Navy during the disastrous years of disarmament, things might now be very different. Fortunately we recovered wisdom just in time to save the Mediterranean, though had we started earlier, perhaps this war might not have broken out at all. We wished for peace, but we did not prepare for war, and so we now are paying in blood and treasure for disregard of the old Roman maxim. Once a reader expressed shocked horror at Flight for having quoted
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