Two articles: advance into Burma and Col Britton speaks again - and is heard

Two articles: advance into Burma and Col Britton speaks again - and is heard

Article 1. Headlines: advance into Burma, no contact with enemy, troops pushing on. Article 2. Headlines: Col. Britton speaks again - and is heard, be ready, remember 1918. BBC European broadcaster spoke on Christmas night telling people to chalk up 1918 to remind Germans of traditional defeat. German press reports signs of 1918 on walls of Paris houses.

1942-12-21

Two newspaper cuttings mounted on a scrapbook page

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THE TIMES MONDAY DECEMBER 21 1942

ADVANCE INTO BURMA

NO CONTACT WITH ENEMY

TROOPS PUSHING ON

From Our Special Correspondent

G.H.Q., INDIA, Dec. 20

British and Indian troops, whose patrols recently have been probing ever more deeply into the jungle south of Chittagong, have crossed into western Burma, and are pushing on in the direction of Akyab.

After months of doubt and waiting this offensive action will be hailed as an example of things to come, but just now it must be plainly stated that it is in no way
[picture]
a major operation for the re-conquest of Burma. Its objectives are purely local, and if in due course they extend to the capture of the port of Akyab, much will have been achieved. So far the Japanese have shown no fight, though, before the advance began, there had been a certain amount of skirmishing in the region.

THE FIRST ADVANCE

[missing words]

THE [missing words]

COL. BRITTON SPEAKS AGAIN – AND IS HEARD

“COLONEL BRITTON,” B.B.C. European Service broadcaster, who led the “V” sign campaign, spoke again on Christmas night, telling the people of occupied Europe to chalk up “1918” to remind the Germans of their tradition of defeat.

A few hours later, Reuter reported from Berne that, according to the paper “Der Bund,” the figure “1918” was written everywhere on the walls of Paris houses. “Like the former ‘V,’” the paper writes, “it implies that rekindling of hope in an Allied victory.”

“BE READY”

This, it is added, is one of the signs which convince “authoritative” circles in Berlin that the French public does not realise “the true nature of France’s interests.”

On Christmas night Colonel Britton came in dramatically after a special programme in which the Navies, Armies, and Air Forces of the United Nations had in their own tongues sent Christmas messages of hope to their enslaved countries.

“Great things will happen in the coming year,” he declared, “and you must be ready for them. I want to ask the editors of under-ground newspapers to print this message from London:-

“REMEMBER 1918”

“Twenty-five years ago this same war was raging, and in 1918 the enemy could fight no more. He would like to forget this. Let us remind the enemy of 1918. We painted ‘V’ on the walls in the dark days for victory. In these brighter days the figures ‘1918,’ are now appearing on the walls in many occupied countries.

“Much will be asked of us before victory is ours. We shall not win with a slogan, but as we fight for an ideal, for man’s right to freedom, so we may use the idea to remind ourselves and the enemy of victory won before. Remember 1918. We in London wish you, our gallant friends in Europe, the best of luck in the New Year. We shall try to win victory.”