World News and Trends: Britain's military preparedness under review
"Weapons Out of Date by the Time They Arrive." "British Army Apaches Grounded After Faults." "New Attack Helicopter Cannot Fly." "Soldier's Rifle Failed in Battle." "£80 Million to Build Army's Useless Rifles."
These newspaper headlines underscore British troubles since June of this year. British weaponry may be in its sorriest state since the 1930s, and at a high cost to the taxpayer.
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) wrote affectionately of the British-built Martini-Henry rifle, which played an important role in helping establish British imperialism and the winning of international respect. But now some 200,000 infantry rifles will have to be rebuilt at a factory in Germany.
The declining state of British armory reminds one of the words of Ezekiel 7:14: "They have blown the trumpet and made everyone ready, but no one goes to battle; for [God's] wrath is on all their multitude." (Sources: Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, The Times, Sunday Telegraph [all London].)
An Article from:
Good News Magazine: September - October 2000
Course Content
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
Melvin Rhodes
Melvin Rhodes is a member of the United Church of God congregation in Lansing, Michigan.
