THE CHÍNA MAIL, AUGUST 22, 1940
CHINA MAIL
WINDSOR HOUSE
CALM CONFIDENCE
:
The triumphs of the Royal Air Force, both in the great air battles of
HOLIDAY TASK
LOW ON THE MEN OF VICHY
ule om essay how Britam clouted the war
the Channel and in vigor- crescribing particularly the
ous counter offensive have done much to heart- en the Empire and dim- inish apprehensions aroused by the blood-cur- dling threats of Dr. Goeb- bels.
Mr. Churchill's calm, confident speech was well calculated to carry that easing of minds a stage further.
The Prime Minister's confidence contained nothing of bluster or over- boldness.. It was impres- sive less because Mr. Churchill proclaimed Bri- tain to be sure of itself and its cause than be- cause of the solid array of facts which he marshall- ed in support of his con- sidered belief that the British Isles aware of the ordeals that lie ahead is well able to face them without flinching.
betrayal of France by the treachmmus Churchill,
ESTION
WHAT IS TRUTH?
WHATEVER YOU SAY TRA
SWER:
If Hitler Tries
Once the Germans occupied the northern coast of France, an in- vasion of this country became a serious possibility-not so much
At times, Mr. Churchill because their troops now have a much shorter sea crossing to spoke with that noble make, but because the basic mo-
dern handicap upon any such-at-
Invasion
At the same
threatened area.
on
have carried through to their logl- cal fulfilment most of the ideas mechanised warfare which were first conceived in this coun- try.
· An
Thus there would be no cause dignity of which he is the tempt has been partially removed.
for surprise if their next move time there may | Another is the use of artificial for duced the means of giving reality should reveal that they have pro- master. At others, he
That handicap lies in the fact be a better chance of slipping on a large scale to cloak the cross- could not resist the temp-that an invading force which is one forces shore at more dising and to cover the landing from military futurists years
to a picture-painted by British carried over a long stretch of sea tant- points in the north, the air attack.
ago tation to indulge his pun-is excessively vulnerable to the south-west, or Ireland if the
fleet of transports arriving on an defenders' shore-based air force defenders attention and forces In any case we should be wise enemy's coast and belching forth a gent wit. The burden of unless and until it can establish can be fixed in the most obviously to reckon with the likelihood that swarm of armoured reptiles,
aerodromes on the far side,
the Germans, for the execution of ashore; could carry out a rapid ad- which, after making their way the speech, however, was]
their plans, may seize a moment On several occasions a frank appraisal of the autumn
lastIt would be reasonable to anti-when a sea fog prevails in the vance inland. there was considerable cipate that any attempted inva- Channel and the North Sea. concern here over reports that the sion will not be conuned to one
alternative possibility. is war situation, balancing Germans might attempt a cross area, but will be carried out at Other possibilities are the in-transport of the tanks in sea- the national assets with ing of the North Sea. It was dif- a number of widely separated vader's use of bir-borne tanks, going barges, from which they ficult to see justification for such points-in order to create a dis-and, still more, of swimming,
could land in shallow water, by the forces arrayed on the anxiety, in view of the inherent traction helpful to the chances of tanks. The former kind have ap- means; of' a' sloping ramp.
air handicap on its success.
each and all.
parently been 'utilised by the other side in the light of
Russians in accelerating their ad- And this spring our own ex- all that has passed since perience in Norway tended
If any attempt: at invasion will vance into Bessarabia, and it. is to run heavy risks, it may now seem only reasonable to take account the collapse of France, had held that a seaborne expedito a man who is playing for high mans, who had already borrowed confirm the views of those who a strategically justifiable gamble of the possibility "that the Ger-
In any case we must be pre- and suggesting a conclu-tionary force. could...not be ex-stakes. All the more so if he feels the idea of parachute troops from pared for a marked acceleration pected to consolidate a foot-that he has some fresh tactical that source, may also have de- in the tempo of any such attempt- sion which could not fail hold. in face of a strong shore-card up his sleeve.
voloped the means of transport-ed landing operations. based air force. to leave a feeling of keen
ing armoured fighting vehicles by |Technique Of Invasional.
Instead.. of the cautious: con- satisfaction.
solidation of a "bridgehead," al- The question which we must Tanks Of Lightest Type lowing time for the defenders' Two vitally important however, by the German occupa- and taction is why te qe capacity of aircraft is limited, such vehicles may try to sweep inland
The situation has been changed, try to answer, both speculatively
assemble, successive tactically what technique But, as the weight-carrying waves of armoured fighting decisions were announced tion of Belgium and France. Their air force: may: now: be able
tanks could only be of the lightest as fast and as far as possible in type-which is not well suited for order to create confusion and dis- operations in such a hedge-bound locate communications.. [country as 'England. :
A
Situation Changed
by the Prime Minister, to operate from bases close enough
to the English coust to enable them
One was the refusal of not only to cover a crossing but to the British Government paratively short range, to any give sustained support, at.com- to lift the blockade to per troops who succeed in landing on mit Hitler to profit by his our shores. pillaging of the countries
By Capt. Liddell Hart
*
J
Known Limit To Landing Areas
reserves to
lies
On the other hand, there is a There would seem to be a known limit to the number of #greater potential.menace in the places along our consts where
use of swimming or floating tanks such a mechanised landing tise. The kind of "Trojan horseat type in which this country, practicable, so that an appro- -composed of seemingly innocent originally took the lead, only to printe distribution of our anti- merchantships--which helpedt to let it slip. Apart from the speclair tank weapons and obstacles is he has over-run. Kid- Empire to contemplate paralyse the resistance of Norway designed Cardon-Loyd Am made easler. Moreover, we gloves are off. The se our dangers with a disilbas no scopertere.
17phibians, which the Russians have officers who from long subsequently copied, we produced study of the idea are well fitted cond revealed that an lusioned mind. To-day, s01 For the parachutists who spread the means of eating somewhat to counter the threat if we agreement in principle magnificently has the na-contusion in the May offensive heavier tanks so that they could only utilise them adequately.
we are better prepared than were paddle ashore after being drop The menace of a tank infiltra~ has been reached with tion rallied, the Prime the Low Countries. Indeed, we ped overboard from a transport. [¡tion, ^as' of the tank itself, the United States on de Minister is able to give us have carried some precautions 80
far: as to court the opposite dan- Some ten years ago a success- largely in its psychological effect. fensive measures in the a wholly bright picture. ger-of creating hindrances to the ful demonstration was given' of And this effect is least where Western Hemisphere, an We can feel now that the free movement of our own forces the South Coast, despite the fact there is most understanding of its and piling up restrictions. on the that on "the chosen day the sea qualities. As the facts of the cam- agreement on lines which shadows are lifted; and public-which may be enervating was fairly rough. Unfortunately, paign' in France become clearer, this development languished when the evidence grows that at many > strengthen the while it would be unwise to morale.
the mechanised warfare export times, and places u mere trickle bonds between the Eng- to minimise the difficul- Whilo. It is important to have who had nursed it from birth was of-tanks, was, mugnifled, into, the lish-speaking peoples, to ties of the task ahead, wela counter, ready for the devices moved from the War Office to proportion of a tidal wave, thus which the enemy has already command an infantry brigade. If producing the needless abandon- our, mutual advantage. can feel that the means tried, it is even more important It had only been brought to ma- ment of important pointo-one- are equal to the spirit of to look ahead. One of the obturity it might have been invalu- times only because it was not - After Dunkirk, it will the nation, which is dedi- consideration is the use of gas; wegian campaign
the recent Nor-realised that the tanks them
selves, were lost. be recalled, Mr. Churchill cated to seeing this thing authorities are satisfied with their The German offensive in Franco Reproduction in whole
World Copyright ** reserved. invited Britain and the through.
[-forbidden.]
must
vious possibilities which, culls for able to us in
it is to be, presumed that the
Imeasures to meet this menace has shown that our opponents
or..part