CHINA MAIL New Staff Chiefs Of
"-WINDSOR HOUSE
NOTHING.
The world would be a much happier place to -live in if only the people
who have nothing to say would not say it. This ap- horism by a music-hall artist who is also a philo-
The Offensive School
It was in the very crisis of the straggle for the French Channel ports that Mr. Churchill uttered one of those flaming oblter dicin which. illuminating a confuse:l
contrive to bring picture, everything in its true perspective.
out
"The armies must cast away" he
said, "the idea of resisting attack
obstacles and must realise that
Woris
then
tu
seemed RIT of novelty,
sopher was recently quot-behind concrete lines or natural ed by a Member of Parlia-mastery can only be regained by ment. He said he did not! furious unrelenting assault.” The as a rule, for this reason wear among others, seek to though it was not yet known that French general hold the attention of the a distinguished
had informed
correspondent House for more than A that he had abandoned his early few minutes. It would be and skilfully conducted advane? aginst the West Wall because "we an excellent thing if every were too far away from the Ma- M.P. framed the wise say- ginot Line" A statement such as that would have seemed unintelli-
ค
the endeavour to evare the in-
the defensive
By-
STRATEGICUS
In full
his harmony with country's mood Mr. Churchill has recently made revolution- ary chances in the top posl. tions of Britain's three Ser- vice departments. Disregard - ing "seniority," the Prime Minister has promoted young. er men-adepts of the offen- sive school in modern strategy --to supreme commands. This article by Strategicus, the well-known
Com- Military mentator of the "Spectator,” explains who these men ara and what their appointmenta signify.
ency's territory. The
been on the
With the Navy supplying the basis of victory and the Bombing Force spreading increasing des truction the way will be open for the coupe de grace. This will be an offensive weapon, England was Biographical Details the inventor of the tank and of the first armoured division. Sir Alan Admiral Sir Henry Harwood. Brooke, the new commander-in-aged 51, victor of the River Plate chief of the Home Forces, is the action against the "Graf Spee," brilliant offeer who fought Knighted in October, 1040, now through the war in France and, a assistant to the Chief of the Naval specialist in the use of mechanis- Staff. His signal at the time of the "My object: ed force, saw both its power and River Plate action its limits, Another of the younger Destruction" is characteristic for school, his bold aggressive spirit this man who is always in favour will inspire the growing army of taking the initiative and driv- that will one day take the offen- ing home the attack against his sive with decisive effect. The les- | opponent. son of the war in Belgium and
minor bombing attacks of theed divisions, in bombing attacka lime broke down "the moral re- prepared with scrupulous care and sistance of the German nation."carried out with precision, in the Now that the attack will develop new Navy with its immense ac- increasingly it is certain to have cretion of small ships. At present an immense effect.
only the bare outlines can be seen of the offensive instrument which will achieve victory; but they are taking shape and they form the foundation of our confidence.
vigorous of a prize-day fence The defeat of France was dockyards,
offensive against the at all costs. This was
*
**
*
the
t
Prime
to pro-
ing and hung it up in able to Marshal Foch, and every- convenient place to bete to-day must find it difficult
to remember that the first quota-sion the Royal Air Force bembers | France has been well learned. The Vice Admiral J. C. Tovey, read afresh every morn- tion comes from a statesman and showed that they could carry the use of the tank with accompany. ing. The
purveyors of the second but not the first from a offensive across the most highlying acroplanes was first applied by D.S.O., Commander in Chief Home
professional selfie.
destroyer expert, defended frontiers and invade the the British army at Fricourt, in Fleet aged 54.
will now hold the post corres- platform platitudes would
The facts have taught us much case been inagnificent, but they no longer minded merely to pre-ponding to that
fighters | 1918; and the army command is
of Jellicne and also do well to consider Before the war there had grown
Beatty in the Inst war. --though tactically the attack is sent ideas to the Germans. The the wisdom of refraining school of thinkers, who, in
their only weapon-were strategi- | new army is being trained along
Noteworthy that this officer has from saying nothing and exorable law that wars are won by tending hearth and home.
cally only fulfilling the task of de- the most modern scientific lines.
been promoted from. the post of so contribute to the sum resolute fighting, had attempted to bombers have from the beginning have been
The From America alone 4,000 tanks Cornmander Destroyer Flotilas in
the Mediterrancati
uf to that ordered; Canada is final a prescription for victory in
Commander in Chief Home Fleet total of human happiness.hers, material and organised damaging blows upon the enemy, time various improved types have at a very young age.
offensive, inflicting | manufacturing them and for some
This rapid The example of substitutes ves; but this has per shed weakening his morale, destroying bren mass produced in England. promotion in disregard of "senio-
in the brewth of reality und now ing an essay by Bacon for its realised that the dependence
his war potential. Under Air Mar- The allies entered the Great rity" had a sensational affect on length
shal Sir Charles Portal the Lomb War inspired with the conviction public opinion in Great Britain
backs daily the usual frothy utterance upon
ers have never rested from their that they must take the offensive which breed, incapacity even for de- expected
taken so Minister's determination munition factories, literally that on occasion it led to mote young men of the offensive speaker can be followed due not so much to inferior nume refineries and communications heavy loss, and as a reaction there school to the most important posis
bers and lack of material us to of the enemy. His proinction from grew up the school which places in the Services. with profit. But it need the fatal obsession with the de- the post of Chief of the Bomber its reliance upon the defensive,
He gained the D.S.O. after the .not always be Bacon. tensive system, with the Maginot Command to that of Commander-
when, as the Anything from Montaigne in the end
Line, and this Frankenstein resemn-Chief, Royal Air Force, brings, sive is risky, obsession with the Commander of the Destroyer Ons-
But if an obsession with the offen- battle of Jutland to overwhelm Its that spirit of scientifically con- defensive is fatal. It is recognised low, he closed in to fire remain- or Maurois, from Spinoza creator,
trolled aggression to the supreine that only by the offensive can a
ing torpedoes when his ship was But how far we have travelled efec of the Air Force, or Shaw, could be made
If this decision be obtained; and no less badly crippled. Under him the I from that mood can now be real- equally apt and much ised when it is seen that the fight-England from invasion, who can lard. The British
newest of the Services has saved than that is the objective of Eng-and I class destroyers of Narvik fame and the Cossack which sent army, in any more stimulating than ang Services nave been quietly can say how far it will go towards case, has always been an offensive a boarding party to rescue British prisoners on the Altmark had en- the defeat of the enemy" It is at instrument, like the tank 1. in- dreary repetition of pain-aggressive men. With the appoint- least certain that it defence, invented. The direction of the fight-joyed operational training. He is fully revealed glimpses of ment of Vice-Admiral J. C. Tovey, the preparation of the attack and ing Services is now in the hands known CB. D.S.O.. as Commander-in-the development of the offensive, of new, younger and aggressive Tovey. Chief of the Home Fleet and Rear- the Air Force is an almost incal- men who by instinct and by train- "(Often more to be pitied Admiral Henry Harwood,culably important factor. In the ing believe in the offensive. But Lt. General Sir Alan Brooke,
K.C.E.. as Assistant to the First Great War, according to Majorit is in the scientific offensive theyD.S.O than uninspired and un-Sea Lorti. Sir Dudley Pound, the Grosskreutz, the comparatively | belleve, in the improved armour- inspiring public speakers Senior Service receives
breath of life. Fortunately it did are those anonymous, eru not need to be infused with the dite, omniscient and dis-offensive spirit: that indeed is its cerning individuals of these officers Irings with him continuing characteristic. But each
vigorous bent known in the newspaper a fresh
Both of them world as leader-writers. aggressive action.
have been recently connected with
the obvious.
command of young new
Sir
and
21 new
for
the
Hitler Is Angry
Diplomatic circles in Londonsideration of the
By Beverley Baxter, M.P.
as submarine-chaser-
*
*
Commander-in-Chief Home Forces at the age of 56, born. and early education in France.
Specialist in Artillery, heavy armour, mechanisation. Inventor of the barrage map which came into general use for the direction during the last of barrage Are
wor.
✡
Instructor at the Staff College, They must say something the small ships of the Navy: and
Germans who Imperial Defence College, Com- mandant at the school of Artillery, is more in- are much intrigued by the latest did not bomb Paris. every day of the year, not the spirit of attack
evitably associated with them than underground news from Germany. Even when Nazi officials glare Inspector of Artillery, Director of excepting Sundays. It it is with the battleship, the ship? There is abundant and uncon-at the French audiences to identi-Military Training, Commander of
evidence that does not matter whether of the line, which in the last re-trovertible
Herr ty the villains who dare to ap- the Mobile Division, Commander of the Anti-Aircraft Division; sort assures their safety and is the Hitler is angry, very angry in-plaud the French get around it
General Officer Commanding nobody reads a word of foundation of sea power. It is, deed,
by sitting motionless and stamp- Southern Command. Commander ships of the It would be wrong to assume ing with their feet. what they write. There however, the small
Navy that carry out the Navy's that he is depressed or discour- Finally, the Charlie Chaplin of the Second Army Corps at the is the allotted space to be offensive, the blockade; that are aged. On the contrary his victories film "The Dictator" is worrying beginning of the present war. Now filled. And, even if there for the most part the visible signs have exalted his spirit and con- the Fuehrer. He and the great Chief Defender of the British
of its strengin. Admiral Tovey, vinced him that Germany's do-little comedian were born in the Isles. is nothing to be said, it however, though he has only re-
same year a few days apart and. It has never been safe in Nazi Air Marshal Sir Charles F. A, has to be sald with vigour cently relinquished the command
of the destroyer flotillas of
Germany to remark on the extra-Portal, K.C.B., D.S.O., M.C. or with an air of quiet Mediteranean which have done
“ordinary (similarity of their 'two! Appointed Acting Air Chief
moustaches.
Marshal and chief of the Air Staff conviction. A cynic has so much to foster caution in the
British commentators say saron October 25, 1940 at the age of described leader-writing of all types of ships: but since the
donically that Hiller should not be||:47. : as the art of saying noth-smaller ships are the limbs with
upprehensive of the Chaplin film) A remarkable career. which the battleships reach out
since it is impossible to burlesque Colonel at the age of 25 in the ing in three paragraphs, and secure their chance of battle minant place anti-his own are on burlesque,
Jast war. ft is much that an officer who has the point of being established. Girmally Hitler's illl Ifavour 'has, One of the greatest experts in The day's news
had such a command should now Nevertheless he is given to con-fallen momentarily upon his de- England on flaconty, on which he speak for itself, and need have charge of the Home Flect. stant fits of rage which are great-, voted Triend Hermann "Godring.; wrote "his first article at the age no interpretation of any better known to the general sources of his
Sir Henry Harwood is much ly disturbing his entourage, TheIt was Goering Who said that the?.of 15. -
exasperation are--mass attacks of the Luftwife -in Wön a motor-bicycle race in kind. But it would hor- public. He brilliantly demon-many but the basic cause is alear, the daytime would break down? 4014 and became a Despatch Rider rify the average reader to strated the power of the small Hitler knows that in Britain the nighter resistance of the R.AT.in the Army at the outbreak of
ship in the battle of the River is being laughed dt. Formerly he and pave the way to Invasion. In the last war. find the editorial column Plate, but he brings to the con- used to be content ito, drept the addition to that ture night bombor While Corporal 'he was men- a perfect blank, or filled duct of naval affairs something translations of what appead attacks would force the British to tioned in the first despatches of much more valuable than is gen- the British Press but when til Abanton London. As itor bombs. Sir John French in September, with funny stories and erally realised. The action he war began he determined to learn on Germany Geering was unitor for
Climbed the ladder of military
may
Italian Navy, has had experience
Britain's famous political Commentatoi
#
corral in 1914, Lieutenant in
groups of asterisks. In fought was so inspiring because enough English to read the optunate enough to say that the
he did not merely drift into it but tions and the headlines at least. would crepanti the firitrusion cóf in hontation with the speed of a these circumstances, it because, in spite of his immenge The cartoons wound him most state British aeroblame meritare. would not surprise the pamteriority. In armament, he de- deeply. To him they are fourm mansiktes sapersonal misilt.
liberately courted the battle, fore- of blasphemy for like all diétators Trings have not quite worized 11918. Colonel by 1917, Squadron tient reader to know that ceing ten days ahead the probable, he dreads the shafts of Hurate, but succording to iplán. The Bi-realter in the Royal Flying Corps the temptation to fill this action of the Graf Spee, concen- Next to the cartoons, he assit fighters finfitated squch bogees at the end of the last war.
trating his small force where It fiercely resents Mr. Churchill's returgoniteur wife in theirmes Won Laurence Minot Bombing column to-day with a se- would appear and practising the ferences to himself as "That wick-cottait atardering till Trophy (aiming personally) 1918 lection from the pages of tactics he thought most suitable ed man." "That evil man and them noir. Insation Instead of be- and again in 1928:
before going into action. "Ability "That cruel man."
lng àlarátovati, cœarkinsoon as usual Royal Naval College 1926, Im- the past was almost irre- to plan ahead, resolution, daring more elaborate denunciation despite heavy destruction of pri-perial Staff College, 1928, sistible. The only rea- and discretion were all involved; would not worry him but the stark yate houses, churches and hospl- Commander of British · Alr son why it was not done that is a great gain to have simplicity of Mr. Churchill's lan- tals. As for the single bomber Forces at Aden, 1934, India 1995, those qualities reinforced in the guage penetrates his self-esteem over Germany there are squadrons Instructor at Imperial Defence was that it would have an- Admiralty.
and cuts him to the quick,
every night.
College, 1936), Air - Vice Marshal Another contributory factor to Herr Hitler shakes his fists at 1937. Member of the Air Council ticipated four centenary But we have always had a
tradition of offensive action in the his distemper is the applause of the skies. As Emperor in all but 1998, Chief of the Bomber Com number on Monday: So Navy. It is in the air, which has the French cliema audiences name, world dictator in all but mand 1939 and Knighted March,
the news-reels show the fact he is very, very angry | 1939. :/ the less satisfactory witnessed the most striking dewhenever
Chief of the Air Staff, October, course was adopted of peopments, that we have been so pictures of destruction wrought in indeed. The Corps Diplomatique
pleasantly and proudly reassured Berlin by the Royal Air Force. In London is always correct in itt:|:1940. about When the warfare of the allies The intention of the Nazis was to Behaviour but behind the scenes Decorations: Distinguished Ser- saying nothing
appeared to have withered under contrast the barbarity of the Bri- everyone is telling the latest story|vice Order with Bar, Military, nothing in particular.
.the blight of the defensive obses-tish as compared with the con- of Hitler's outbursts.
Cross, :") Fath