THE CHINA MAIL; JANUARY 28, 1941.
LULL IN
IN THE NAZI AIR ACTIVITY: THREE REASONS SUGGESTED
(By Reuter's Air Correspondent)
CHOSE DROWNING TO STARVING
Three possible reasons advanced yester- day for the lull in German air activity over Britain, which led to London enjoying its first week without a raid since September, are, in CABIN WHEN THE SHIP WAS order of credibility:
THE PURSER OF A BRITISH STEAMER WAS ASLEEP IN HIS
TORPEDOED.
After hastily donn.ng clothes and lifejacket in the dark he went
was sinking.
Firstly, bad weather on the Continent. up on deck to find that the ship Secondly, Germany's two-front air war,
and
Thirdly, re-equipment and resting.
He was ordered to his boat sia- tion, but asked the captain for permission to return to nis cabin
It was at first refused. With some difficulty and diffidence he
explained that he would rather be
n lifeboat, so could he please go
back for his false teeth.
There can be no great certainty as to the causes but the above reasons commend them-drowned than starved to death in selves in well-informed quarters where there is no belief that the present inactivity is in any way mysterious.
The Low Countries and North- ern France are drenched in the thaw following the recent sharp frost and snowfall.
Many of the German advan ced bases are probably flooded and others temporarily unscr- viceable.
the
The weather generally on other side of the English Channel in the past week has been most unfavourable for flying since the
earlier great freeze
last year. Seventy-five per cent of German inactivity may be attributed to this factor,
Gloomy Forecasts
R.A.F. operations have been se- verely restricted for the same rea- son. Weather forecasts have becu gloomy enough to persuade the Bomber Command that crews would have great difficulty in 10- cating their targets and bombing them accurately.
Weather apart, there is little doubt that the necessary redis- tribution of forces for her air war on two fronts is having some Immediate effect on the striking power of Germany's alr force in Western Europe.
How lasting these will be de- pends on the scale of German com- mitments in the Mediterranean, and that itself may depend on how critical becomes Italy's position.
New squadrons have arrived at Sicilian bases and Heinkel III bombers have appeared in action.
Present Indications
Present indications are that the Luftwaffe will be reserved for attacking the British Fleet and its Mediterranean bases, for action in Albania (where weather limits Its use at present), or, it is even pos- sible, for the defence of an Italy shorn of its empire and of the back door to Germany.
Re-equipment of squadrons remaining in Northern France and the Low Countries, in pre- paration for what will probably be the decisive air clash with Britain, is no doubt being push- ed ahead.
This would enable crews 'tem- porarily withoutt 'planes to enjoy a much-needed rest after six months of continuous action.
New Nazi Fighter
new German fighter-thế Heinkel 113-is in service already and the Focke-Wulf and subsid- fary factories have been busy for months past turning out new fighters and bombers,
It is certain that the Luftwaffe, refreshed' and to a certain extent re-equipped, will take the earliest opportunity to return to full öper-: ations over Britain by night and day and will-maintain: this offen- much as its commitments elsew
RIA Fretaliation,
The teeth were rescued, and so was the owner.
For