1941-02-15 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 15, 1941.

CHINA MAIL Gaining The Mastery

``WINDSOR, HOUSE

NAZI SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN

In

The War

A stage has now been reached the Battle of the Air, it is the Hurricanes, the Spitfires and the still too few, Deflants that should-

Mr. Wendell Willkie's in the air battle over Britain at which it is possible to take stock insistence in Washington of the situation with fair promise

of accurate summation. that Britain's greatest!

Certainly it is hardly possible need at the moment is to over-estimate the advantages His squadrons more destroyers and then that Hitler holds.

are able to operate from a for ward fringe of more destroyers is a re- which makes their flights to main conquered soit

minder of the harsh reali-objectives in our country a mere matter of minutes, instead of ties of the strategic situa-

hours. tion.

er the responsibility for success

or failure, and on whom must ever rest the burden of the struggle.

In that particular sense, the air fighting over British territory Nazi fighter forces and our own. becomes a battle between the

For consider what would happen if our fighters were eventually borne down by weight of numbers, or If their strength became So In consequence. Nazi bombers | seriously denuded that the Sum

hearts' total of their powers of resistance Britain has the solid can be escorted to their

delight by Messerschmidts and are

became a dwindling quantity. E satisfaction that for some, thus placed, presuming a proper such a lamentable result were

between

a cis-

By Air-Commodore

L.E.O. Charlton

weeks now losses of ship- and active cooperation

the two, to inflict a Maximum of ping have been appre-damage at a minimum of risk. ciably lower than the

The Royal Air Force, 01 the average, but there is no other hand, suffers an exceeding assurance that that happy handicap. Targets in enemy ter- position will continue in-org proper are at such

tance from safe air on this s de definitely, and there is at the Channel that ora own fight- EN are precluded, owing merely reason for preoccupation (lack of air endurance, with the problem of meet-attendance on the bombers. ing, when weather con-

Daylight bombing therefore, ditions improve, a serious which is naturally the more effi- challenge by combined air undertaken only at great, and bomb at will, obstructed only by cacious form of air attack, may The entry bombers might then and submarine campaigns. to Britain's lifeline.

from

son etimes unjustifiable risk, our jarreraft on such occasions being hable to interruption during prae- tically the whole period of their

airmen

stantly in mind the vital role four own which our fighters have to play, courage to endure so far from being a victory is in the nature of a reverse.

populace.

show or the

of a stricken

In a nutshell unless we are able

Hitler has undoubtedly experi- progressively to account for more enced a serious setback in the air, enemy fighters than of that type inflicted on him

by a lesser air

of aircraft we lose ourselves, the result, notwithstanding Hitler's force. That part of his war machine bumber losses iri the course of which conducts the battle above has been thrown badly out of gear,

combat, is apt to go against us.

It is in that little recognised fact that the kernel of the issue lies, and in the situation, thus fortui- tously created for him, lies as well the enemy's main advantage

A Different Tale

So much for the duy.

have lost their

its natural steps military sequence, its motive power is being misapplied and there is no longer discernible an ordered progress of events.

Utter Ruin

All this has situation by

FIN

the out-

been accomplished by an inferior air power as far as numbers go. But ere long its num- By night there is a differenters will be swelling as the Cana- fale to teil. Our night-bomber dian trained personnel continues to crews are very highly trained to come over this Spring and the en- attack specific targets, and a word suing months, and feasible at all then it is not ton

here is, perhaps, appropriate on put of machines, both at home and much to say that the prospect of the subject of the reprisal bomb- overseas, increases to a flood. mvasion would bear a different | ing of Berlin. complexion altogether.

New types will appear as the Such a proceeding is no mere days go on to more than answer disinclination matter of sentiment, founded on any improvements that the enemy

may have in store. waste of life.

the anti-aircraft guns, a method of defence which, would be quite inadequate to cope acknowledgedly.

with the fight, both outwards and on re-fighters could then fly low to the situation. The enemy turn.

altack of whatever objective they selected, either troop formations, We are able, it is true, to escort civilians in pursuit of their lawful columns it move- ment, by train and road, to the vicinity of the landings.

our bombers as far as the hostile

on

occasions, or

we

to occasion wanton

Parity, that much abused ex- pression, will soon be reached and If, for instance, we could be as-

soon exceeded, and as those days tory sured of prompt and crushing vic- accrue the far-famed "Luftwaffe," indiscriminadvely already a terribly punished arm of bombed Berlin would we refrain, war, will go down to utter ruin be- on humanitarian accounts?

fore the irresistible onrush of our pilots and air crews flying towards the enemy in veritable holdes.

Assuredly not, and well would we deserve defeat if we found it in our hearts to do so.

At the heart of the situation is German pos- session of bases in OC- cupied France which per

aerodrome establishments. mit planes to spot Bri-

French, and other foreign soil, tish convoys 500 to 600 but these are, in Therm nature.

Before that near day our people We would have insuflicient figh-

will have to endure much. And miles out at sea. Whether short flights, partaking always of!

The totalitarian aspect an element of surprise, and the ters with which to bring the Nazi

of this yet they will endure it, for well war has been forced on us by our they know the they decide upon a bomb-objectives, looking at the matter bombers down, to tackle the pre-relentless for, and it

price of victory our own that Hitler would exact and, better ing attack or not, their exclusively from an air wartare datory Messerschmidts as they flow civilian masses have been thus ob-still, the abounding cruelties that

point of view, are invariably of a around on mischief bent, first step is to notify the military significance, the destrue¡ worst of all, our own bombers, set the battle there

and, liged to stand in the forefront of would accompany the military oc- can be no objec-cupation by the Nazis of our soll. fleet of small submarines tion of which cannot be expected to the vital task of sending the tion, un purely military grounds,

to strike at the root of the Nazi, transports and the lurking at sea or at Brest air power.

barges to the to the enemy's civilians assuming As it is it only remains for the It is, in this connec-bottom, would be

largely at the the same stance, and Lorient and

menace of the night-bomber to be other, tion, as if casunities were inflicted mercy of the clouds of Nazi fighters!

countered by some means or me- in the course of buttle

the detailed for the points in France.

Military exigency is the crux of thod for our purpose of pre- light advanced

day of victory to forers of the venting them.

the whole affair and, at present, dawn. We no longer fear the we consider our methods more enemy in the air by day. We have damaging to the Nazi war machine already taken his full measure. than would ever be the wholesale Strictly speaking his activities by bombing of Berlin as an alterna-night do not amount to a military Live means of compassing the menace, for indiscriminate bomb- ing cannot, in its very nature, cripple a country's war potential, In this, however, the enemy more particularly think differently and he has chosen finished material is being received when so much to assault our capital, and other of from overseas and manufactured our teeming cities, with the ob-in regions which will be forever vious intention of breaking our out of Hitler's reach. national will to war by bringing

| enemy, the main buches, vastly

Advantage To Hitler

A further advantage to Hitler, engendered by the situation, is his possession of the entire

littoral the European

facing these shores confers on his air forces

Our Air Force, in other words, would be largely, and in time wholly, withdrawn from the fray, leaving the ground and sea forces of the nation to meet the impact of same result. invasion and defeat it, thenuselves being unprotected from the air. Here is a concrete instance bearing directly on the argument.

Dependable reports in-arrayed in depth, being compara- dicate that the German tively safe from danger and even

impervious to attack. submarine fleet is larger than anticipated and that in December, 85 were at sea at one time. This probably represent- ed Germany's maximum effort at that time, but it that is expected that Spring campaign will be the ability to come in simultane-

New Comparison gin with well over a hun-ously from many different and

During the week September 25- dred and as the hours of our defending aircraft must neces- enemy aircraft,

widely separated

points. Thus October I we accounted for 257 a number that darkness are reduced, the sarily be scattered as they fly to included the result of the brave task of

the attack, while the mere exigen- day's fighting when their spotter cies of replenishment, not to count brought down between dawn and 'planes will grow disturb- some slight denudation by reason dusk. During the same period we ingly easier.

a ourselves lost 82 machines, all of which, of course, were fighters.

of their losses, must result in thinning out in areas overhead which may be those selected by the enemy for his main thrust.

133 were

Not that there is any

It is true that of the pilots thus anxiety in Britain. We

involved no less than 36 were So far daytime air action alone eventually reported safe, though it have faced and defeated is the subject of this is fair to assume that a large pro-

remains submarine campaigns be- article, and it now

in portion thereof would not be im- lay some mediately available for fore, with anti-submarine stress on the greatest disadvantage combat.

further equipment which would of all in the existing strategic

that consideration to

situation. It is a somewhat subtle

Let us say then, that as a result that of that week's fighting we lost 82 mention in press articles bearing fighters, the pilots of some of on the subject which its extreme which could return

later to the while the enemy losses amounted to an all in total of 257.

importance would appear to en- fray, sure. It is this.

The Responsibility

about war weariness. Actually he has consolidated our ranks and further fixed our determination at all costs to see the matter through.

Night Interception

But the German is ever a bad

But we do badly need to relieve psychologist and a poor translator the suffering of the populace which of history, quite unable to conceive is at present the chief recipient of; to life. Our urban populations are the country's best brains are ap- that hard won liberty is preferable the bombs by night. To that end showing enormous adaptability to plying their talent, and meanwhile, their new way of life, while the by military device alone, we are ideas of casualty by bomb, of progressing in the night intercep- homelessness, and of hardship are tion of the bomber, as the steadily become so common amongst them mounting figures for German that they are losing the force of casualties of late continually show. Meanwhile, also, our own bomber force is successfully, and constant- It is, at the same time, ofly, engaged in striking at the extreme significance, and a matter enemy in places where he stores even for mild reassurance, that the essence of his air power. Hitler has had recourse to the mass bombing of cities.

fear.

Fight Shyness

of

to-day be regarded as point and has not received hopelessly inefficient, and the changed situation in the Mediterranean will undoubtedly permit the

The result is highly gratifying For it means, as plainly as if it Royal Navy to improve

at first sight, and on numbers, were written large, that his day the escort position. There

both machines and air crows, we offensives, so promising of result is nevertheless a great

have as usual scored a notable vic-and so well-conceived to. achieve tory in defence. The real point, their object, have fallen far short deal in Mr. Willkie's plea In his various, and persistent, however, is this!

of that, which was expected for the release of addi-heavy calibre last year, chiefly daytime air attacks on Britain of

them. Of the enemy losses how many tional destroyers to Great confined to London and the South-were bombers and how many Britain. The loss rate of East, Hitler was opposed entirely fighters?

by our fighters, who alone bore British shipping may rise the full brunt of the battle in the For it, as is very possible indeed, set. He miscalculated its strength cruelly unless the loss air, and who alone: suffered loss. we can assign the round number for one thing, and, for another, the This is not said to cry down the of 200 to the Nazi bomber losses, bravery and skill of its personnel, rate among the German strenuous, and manly efforts of remembering that the occasion coupled with the excellence of its submarines is taken to the protective curtain of the repulse an air bombardment, then by surprise.

our anti-aircraft batteries, much of the fighting was to equipment, has taken him badly that point where to ven-balloon barrage. Both indeed play the result is not so good. ture to sea becomes re- their parts. garded by German sea- men as a fifty per suicide trip.

cent.

But in the consideration of rela- cbb and tive air power of the flow of casualties inflicted or re- ceived, and of, in grand terms,

Our fighter force has not been denuded, and the logic of the whole proceeding has been over

Results may not be apparent to the uninitiated eye, and weaker ones among us will still clamour for reprisals, but one day soon we will be glad that we went on ham- mering at the Ruhr, and elsewhere, instead of wasting our valuable resources by copying the enemy's barbarian method. It is not a little that we have accomplished. up-to- date.

We have completely altered Hitler's plan of campaign and sent him seeking elsewhere, and in doing so our Air Force can claim, over the period of the enemy's air attacks on Britain, a resounding victory.

Once we have attained material'

as well as moral air superiority it will be the beginning of the end. From that time history will date Hitler's defeat, commencing with a There is a growing fight-shyness series of rushing reverses in the It would then indicate, In fact, amongst the Nazi pilots and it has air, succeeded, by a never-ceasing that the enemy had lost 57 been proved again, this time in rain of bombs on his munition fighters to our 82, and thim, con- our favour, that even in the air centres, and ending with the com- sidered as a battle between two mere numbers will not bear down plote collapse of the Nazi war fighter forces and bearing con-leither the spirit of defiance that| mach!..e:

!