Theatre
Certainly, whatever new de- vices, Britain is, at the moment, sadly, short of both surface escort vessels and of--long-range sca- planes and flying-boats; aud she will need also additional merchant tonnage to make up for the losses, I should, however, venture the guess that the Admiralty would value above every other gain which they might be offered the right to use the bases of Eire in carrying out counter-nieasures,
The reason for this statement will be clear from a glance at a map. While the Germans hold the French coastline, the Channel is
By MAJOR FIELDING ELLIOTT
both north of the British Isles (in Norway) and the south of them (In France).
if the northern and western Eire bases were available. Moreover, were Berehaven and Queenstown in British hands, it might be pos- sible to give some protection to convoys coming through the wes- tern approaches, thus dividing the enemy's forces and increasing the mathematical chances of any particular convoy coming safely to port.
As for the German bombing at- tacks now being directed against British ports and industrial cen- tres, it is to be noted that these are all port of gramme that is, an attack direct- a blockade pro- ed against communications.
The necessary concentration of British shipping activities at west coast likewise to concentrate his efforts. ports permits the enemy Even when these are directed at industrial areas such as Birming-
translated into British war prevent overseas supplies being
terial.
ma-
The spectacle of con- tinuing Russian-Nazi co- - operation tends to produce concern wherever totali- tarianism is feared or op posed. It tends also to
of its vital centres and interior screen the political fric-communications as to compel its tion which exists between
Great Britain being an island
not much use for ocean convoys; and the British Navy being in
and the Channel ports will be those two States and command of the sea to an extent
under constant air attack. It will which the Germans cannot hope
They hold, indeed, the whole also be difficult to use the western which is exacerbated by to overcome, it would always be coast of Europe from North Cape approaches, so that for all practi-ham and Coventry, they are still
necessary for the Gerinans to to the
Spanish frontier. Their cal purposes the supplies of Britain ultimate purpose of which is to:
part of the blockade scheme--the Nazi pressure on Slav counterbalance this British
access to the Atlantic from Nor- must be carried on by ships com- sea command by sufficient air superi- way is somewhat impeded by the ing by way of the northern ap- peoples in the Balkans.ority of their own to permit the British occupation of Iceland and proaches, reaching from the north passage of Gernian troops across the Faroes, but long nights and of Ireland, the ports of the Clyde, Negotiations over trade,
the narrow waters of the Channel bad weather undoubtedly enable the Mersey, and the Bristol Chan-
It is, however, to be noted such as those held recent- and their disembarkation on Bri-raiders and blockade runners to nel; and other ports on the West bombing attacks are taking place that for the most part German Uish shores. The German experi-slip through. If this were all, how-Const. ly, can be entered into atences in the Skagerak with ever, the danger would not be so A convoy may occasionally slip losses have
at night. In their day attacks their operations of this sort apparently great. The real danger lies to the through around the north of Scot-hibitive. Night attacks are much proved to be proTM any time without raising gave them an exaggerated opinion south, where French bases on the land, but this is dangerous also, of wir power's potentialities in Channel and the Bay of Biscay while German guns and mines at
more difficult to stop by defensive political issues, yet they such operations; they did not suf-
are now nests for German sub-the Strait of Dover cut off access others may be presently perfect- means now available, though ficently allow for serve as an opportunity distances from bases
the respective marines, closely supported by air-to the East Coast from that direc-ed.
which was craft. In their favour in the Skagerrak, for each party to sound
Save for coastal trade, the East favour now.
Coast may be counted out for the time being. These conditions make out the political attitudes
the waters on the west of Scotland of the other.
and the north of Ireland a happy hunting ground for Germon sub- marines and their aerial assistants, since this is the great focal area of traffle. The task of British ships and 'planes in dealing with them would
be immensely simplified
but is in Britain's Distance is indeed the most im- portant single factor in assessing, the ability of air power to per- form a given task.
It is in this combination of sub- marine and aeroplane, in which the 'plane finds for the submarine prey and helps In attacking it, that the real danger lies. While shipping losses have not yet risen Had there been nothing that in default of a future gain-
It must, therefore, be assumed to the levels of the black months of 1917, they are sufficiently dis- of a commercial nature to ing of air superiority by the Ger-quieting, and it is clear that no mans which does not appear satisfactory answer to this com- discuss, the talks still¦ likely--any German Invasion bination has yet been evolved,, might have taken place. But there evidently was something of a commer- cial nature that required| examination.
sesses.
tion.
Cards On The Table
ап-
In
the
No form of attack has yet been devised by man against which a defence Moveover, night attacks necessari-
was not found in
time.
ly reduce the accuracy of bomb- ing, which reduces the chance of damage to individually important targets.
Meanwhile, Britain is effective- ly maintaining the grip of her own scablockade on Germany and German-conquered territory.
In
a military sense it is the relaxa- tion of this blockade by capture or destruction of its bases in the is- land of Great Britain which is the principal German objective at the moment. That island also serves
tres from British bases than from presently held German bases to British centres. However, if the British have no effective counter- agent to the night bomber, neither have the Germans; and the superior technique of the R.A.F. counts for much.
in a recent article I expressed of Scotland; now it has the French speeding-up with a corresponding as a base for the British counter- some scepticism about the idea ports at its disposal, and can pro- effort on our side.
offensive by air against German broached by certain military ex- cced straight from these into the cito dat is the motto for the hour.
Bis dat qui industries and military centres, perts that Hitler would seek to Western seas. Then, as in the Two things may be decided
which is having its effect upon the Germany now needs help Mussolini
in his adversity, early months of this war, we had soon. First, whether the war is German war effort. either by a drive through Bulgaria the French Fleet to help us into be greatly prolonged and an This counter-offensive has from more than it expected to to the Turkish frontier or through tracking down the enemy: now we even wider spread given to its the beginning been largely con-
Yugoslavia to Salonika. Goebbels have to do need when the last com- had just rather
the whole business destructiveness; and, second, whe-fined to night bombing, and has pointedly mercial agreement
ther we can spare enough from been handicapped by the greater nounced that the thorough Ger- By J. A. Spender was
our own necessities to give the average distance to German cen- man always made the most car
Greeks the aid we greatly desire reached with the Soviets, ful preparations before delivering single-handed, with the further to give them and which, given in one of his smashing blows; and handicap that the use of the Irish time, may procure a decision in Harvests in the Danubian it seemed highly improbable that naval bases is denied to us.
the war with Italy. There is his chief would so far depart from It is, perhaps, surprising that general consensus area, Europe's principal this principle as to commit him- we have not suffered more under matters in the United States.
on both these self to an improvised expedition these disabilities than we actually granary, have been reduc- through difficult country,
with have in the last five months.
The Door Open untoward weather the depths of winter.
possibly hostile populations,
well remember the anxious anti- For the last three months ed by
It may be suggested that the I suggest-cipations in March, 1918, when we leaders of both the American par- first belligerent to discover such and by diversion of man ed instead that he would seek to had to face the possibilities that ties have been telling their sup- a counter-agent will possess an in a different the Channel ports would fall into porters that the British command enormous advantage in point of and mule power from the help his partner
way by intensifying his bomb-German hands. They were far of the Atlantic is almost as vital. time. Time is indeed a factor of soil to wartime activities. ing of British cities so as to pre-gloomier than the worst we have if not quite as vital, an Ameri- the greatest importance in this What can interest as British, and both war. In the long run, if Britain The British blockade has vent us from sending aircraft to suffered in these months.
the help of Greece, and by in ever befalls, we can keep a good these parties have made the in-can-as now seems probable-hold exerted cumulative pres-creasing his attacks on British heart over this business, and, crease and speeding-up of aid to cut through the winter, the spring sure on German economy, shipping, so as to prevent us from with the assurance given in Par-Britain a principal plank in their will bring with it the beginning sending warships to 'the Mediter- llament recently that it is platforms. Nowhere than in the of a gradual change in Britain's depriving it of key mater-ranean,
under the Prime Minister's spe- United States has there been a favour as far as air power is con- ials with which to make Moreover, apart from the plight cial supervision, resist all tempta- warmer or more generous sym- cerned.
of Italy, a general speeding-up
tion to go hunting for scapegoats.pathy. with the Greeks in their This is by reason of the fact that use even of many mater- may well be a German necessity. In these circumstances it seems heroic battle. We are not, there- the vast industrial capacity of the ials which Germany pos-If the oil situation is not imme- to me that we owe it to our friends fore, forcing an entry into Ameri- United States, added to that of the diately urgent, there is at least everywhere, but especially in the can politics but walking through Dominions, will begin to weight sufficient doubt whether German United States, to explain to them an open door, if we seek at this the scales in favour of Britain.
give precision and and still more, Italian supplies of exactly the position in which we moment to
Germany neither has; nor can armouries One way in which Rus- petrol and lubricating oils would are placed. When Lord Lothian practical direction to these agreed acquire, any distant
returning to America conclusions.' 7
such as these, out of reach of sia might enlarge its trade suffice to carry through the long on
war which we
the are prepared to opened
direct, attack. If the products of question of In the last three months the with Germany is suggest-fight. Again, to have something credits for Britain, there were British and American peoples have assured of reaching the embattled those distant plants can but be ed in reports of negotia have to stomach the disagreeable their heads and blamed him for a ising President Wilson's ideal of
to show the German people, who some in this country who
come as near as possible to real British island, they should begin, tions between the Soviet fact that, instead of ending in supposed indiscretion in this de- "open diplomacy." A great and
as spring arrives, to increase Bri- licate matter. That was not at all stimulating debate has gone for-
tish security against air attack, Union and the Argentine triumph last September, as
were led to expect, the war still the view taken in America. Thereward on the platform and in the while increasing the power of her counter-offensive against Ger- Government. The Argen-has no end in sight, may also be he was thanked for his frankness Press of both countries, and Pre-
in "laying the cards on the table."sident Roosevelt has come to rank many. tine Minister of Agricul- for him highly desirable.
For the moment then; the chief The New Phase
Time For Frankness with our own Prime Minister as task ture "is quoted as saying|
of Britain is to keep hen one of the great educators and Argentina is ready to sell The evidence now leaves little But they were not quite all the leaders of world opinion. But we great island base secure and keep its communications with North to anybody who wants to doubt that this is the new phase cards, or, at least not those which have both had to realise that there America and the rest of the outer
of the war decreed from Berlin. we should most wish to catch is a gap between the acceptance world operf, buy. Thus "neutral" Rus-It has been compared with the American eyes at this moment. We of general principles by leaders The chief task of Germany dangerous emergency of April, are not seriously troubled about and the realisation by the mass must be to reduce that base or sia may attempt to play 1917, but there are differences as the questions of money and cre- of the people of the action which isolate it before its offensive pos- the part of a big neutral well as similarities between the dit which may arise between us is needed to give effect to them.sibilities can be fully exploited to
We feel in our a necessary part of the democratic sea blockade. New means up to the level of 1917, bones that the American people, method.
Weighing all factors, favourable and the problem they present is with their generous sympathies for British and American relations
and unfavourable, a considered not the same as that which con- our cause and the conviction they are on a footing on which we fronted us in that year. Then have so often expressed that it is hardly think of them as diplom- judgment, based on the best mili- information available in This possibility is alwe were groping about for the also their cause and bound up with acy. The Americans are not tary
England, must conclude that while ready being dealt with means of countering the submar their security, will find away watching and weighing and try-
ine, and in a serious uncertainty through Johnson Acts and Neu-ing distractedly to make up their the chief danger is to the British sea communications, chances seem apparently, by British ef- whether we should find it in time, trality Acts, or any other formal minds whether we or the Ger- in favour of Britain in this imme- forts to divert Argentine Now we are in no doubt about the obstacles which would reduce mans are going to win-which is
diote contest. Those chances means, and our uncertainty, if these high matters to the level of the groundwork of diplomacy, in would be enhanced almost to the foodstuffs to Spain. It is any, is only about the sufficiency cash and curry. But since they Europe to-day. They have whole-point of certainty (if anything not improbable that the of them at our disposal to deal as invite and welcome frankness, we heartedly given their vote to Bris can be certain in war) by the
forcibly and promptly with the need feel no hesitation in explain- tain, and pledged themselves United States can also danger as we should wish, ing to them that what we most send her all possible aid short of Britain, or by a serious embroil
to acquisition of the Irish bases by play an effective part in The other side of the compari- need at this moment is the quick war. In dealing with America we ment of Germany in an asstern or
son is equally Important. In 1917 delivery of planes, ships, and all are saved from the obscurities and south-eastern theatre of war, reducing supplies that the U-boat could finds its way supplies which may help us to complexities which make it so buth might reach - Germany into the Atlantic only through the provide sufficient escorts and their difficult to understand the Euro- The latter po
bottle-neck of the Siralty of Dov-equipment for our convoys, and pean situation at any given mo- 'bound. through: Russia.
ler or round : the north coast of so enable us to meet the German ment.
they
up
shook
broker between the "new ported in recent weeks are by no of next year.
two occasions. The sinkings re- and the United States in the course Frank speaking on that subject is back up the effect of the British
order" and the World.
1