When, a week ago today, Speaker, I asked the House fix this afternoon as the for a statement, I feared would be my hard lot announce the greatest military disaster our long history. I thought - some good judges agreed me - that perhaps 20,000 30,000 men might be re-embarked. it certainly seemed that the of the French First Army the whole of the British Force north of the Amiens-Abbeville would be broken up in open field or else would to capitulate for lack of and ammunition. These were the and heavy tidings for which called upon the House and nation to prepare themselves a ago. The whole root and and brain of the British , on which and around which were to build, and are build, the great British Armies the later years of the , seemed about to perish upon field or be led into ignominious and starving captivity.

The attacked on all sides with strength and fierceness, and their power, the power of their more numerous Air Force, was into the battle or else upon Dunkirk and the beaches. in upon the narrow exit, from the east and from west, the enemy began to with cannon upon the beaches which alone the shipping could or depart. They sowed magnetic in the channels and seas; sent repeated waves of hostile , sometimes more than a hundred in one formation, to cast bombs upon the single pier remained, and upon the sand upon which the troops had only shelter. Their U-boats, one which was sunk, and their launches took the toll of vast traffic which now began. four or five days an struggle reigned. All their armored - or what was left them - together with great of infantry and artillery, hurled in vain upon the ever-narrowing, -contracting appendix within which the British French Armies fought.

Meanwhile, the Navy, with the willing help countless merchant seamen, strained every to embark the British and troops; 220 light warships and other vessels were engaged. They to operate upon the difficult , often in adverse weather, under almost ceaseless hail of bombs an increasing concentration of artillery . Nor were the seas, as have said, themselves free from and torpedoes. It was in such as these that our carried on, with little or rest, for days and nights end, making trip after trip the dangerous waters, bringing with always men whom they had . The numbers they have brought are the measure of their and their courage. The hospital , which brought off many thousands British and French wounded, being plainly marked were a special for Nazi bombs; but the and women on board them faltered in their duty.

Meanwhile, Royal Air Force, which had been intervening in the battle, far as its range would , from our home bases, now part of its main metropolitan strength, and struck at the bombers and at the fighters in large numbers protected them. struggle was protracted and fierce. the scene has cleared, the and thunder has for the - but only for the - died away. A miracle deliverance, achieved by valor, by , by perfect discipline, by faultless , by resource, by skill, by fidelity, is manifest to us . The enemy was hurled back the retreating British troops. He so roughly handled that he not hurry their departure seriously.

, we must be very careful to assign to this deliverance attributes of a victory. Wars not won by evacuations. But was a victory inside this , which should be noted. It gained by the Air Force. of our soldiers coming back not seen the Air Force work; they saw only the which escaped its protective attack. underrate its achievements. I have much talk of this; that why I go out of way to say this. I tell you about it.

This a great trial of strength the British and German Air . Can you conceive a greater for the Germans in the than to make evacuation from beaches impossible, and to sink these ships which were displayed, to the extent of thousands? there have been an objective greater military importance and significance the whole purpose of the than this? They tried hard, they were beaten back; they frustrated in their task. We the Army away; and they paid fourfold for any losses they have inflicted.

Sir, when consider how much greater would our advantage in defending the above this island against an attack, I must say that find in these facts a basis upon which practical and thoughts may rest. I will my tribute to these young . The great French Army was largely, for the time being, back and disturbed by the of a few thousands of vehicles. May it not also that the cause of civilization will be defended by the and devotion of a few airmen? There never has been, suppose, in all the world, all the history of war, an opportunity for youth. The of the Round Table, the , all fall back into the - not only distant but ; these young men, going forth morn to guard their native and all that we stand , holding in their hands these of colossal and shattering power, whom it may be said Every morn brought forth a chance And every chance brought a noble knight, deserve our , as do all the brave , in so many ways and so many occasions, are ready, continue ready to give life all for their native land.

, our thankfulness at the escape our Army and so many , whose loved ones have passed an agonizing week, must not us to the fact that has happened in France and is a colossal military disaster. French Army has been weakened, Belgian Army has been lost, large part of those fortified upon which so much faith been reposed is gone, many mining districts and factories have into the enemy's possession, the of the Channel ports are his hands, with all the consequences that follow from that, we must expect another blow be struck almost immediately at or at France. We are , Sir, that Herr Hitler has plan for invading the British . This has often been thought before. When Napoleon lay at for a year with his -bottomed boats and his Grand Army, was told by someone. "There bitter weeds in England." There certainly a great many more them since the British Expeditionary returned.

Sir, I have, myself, confidence that if all do duty, if nothing is neglected, if the best arrangements are , as they are being made, shall prove ourselves once more to defend our Island home, ride out the storm of , and to outlive the menace tyranny, if necessary for years, necessary alone. At any rate, is what we are going try to do. That is resolve of His Majesty's Government - man of them. That the will of Parliament and nation. The British Empire and French Republic, linked together in cause and in their need, defend to the death their soil, aiding each other like comrades to the utmost of strength. We shall go on the end, we shall fight France, we shall fight on seas and oceans, we shall with growing confidence and growing in the air, we shall our Island, whatever the cost be, we shall fight on beaches, we shall fight on landing grounds, we shall fight the fields and in the , we shall fight in the ; we shall never surrender, and , which I do not for moment believe, this Island or large part of it were and starving, then our Empire the seas, armed and guarded the British Fleet, would carry the struggle, until, in God's time, the New World, with its power and might, steps to the rescue and the of the old.