1941-03-20 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 20, 1941.

GERMAN AIR LULL DUE TO BAD WEATHER

(By Wing Commander L. V. Fraser)

THE GREAT IMPORTANCE of the recent series of offensive sweeps by the R.A.F. over north-western France is emphasised in British air circles.

At pre- sent the French side of the English Channel is “no man's air." Britain sends aircraft over the area in wide sweeps to make sudden attacks and then re- turn home.

It is thought possible that the Germans will try the same tactics on the British side of the Channel. Britain claims no more than that the R.A.F. is sys- tematically making bombing raids and that vital successes have been scored.

One of the new methods of at- tacking night raiders has justį

be en

disclosed. British night-} fighters hover above the enemy's air bases in France shortly before the tone when German planes are experted to return from their night offensives on Britain. They attack the enemy planes

when

So much for the* winter months. In making their spring and summer plans, it must be known that the German com manders have above all to consider the failure of the day bomber.

In August and September, 1939,

they are about to land, making the German Luftwaffe had great

STATE PAPERS

FOUND IN STREET

IMPORTANT PAPERS BE- LONGING TO A FOREIGN POWER WERE FOUND IN THE STREET AND HANDED TO THE POLICE BY A MAN ACCUSED OF SHOPBREAKING AT MARL- BOROUGH STREET POLICE COURT, LONDON.

This was revealed when Nathan Bryer, motor driver of Union Street. Dunstable, was about to be committed for trial on charges of being concerned with another man, who escaped, in breaking into a vostun ier's shup in Berwick Street, Oxford Street, and stealing clothing.

Detective-Sergeant Massey said that recently Bryer took to Mar- borough Street Police Station a suitcase he had found in the street

of

It contained correspondence considerable national Importance a good target in landing flares, | success against countries without belonging to the representative This method also protects the organised are defences and ad- of a foreign country. attacking planes, since the raiders | equate fighter forces. An im- are between them and the ground | mense aur superiority was speedți- defences. The bombing of run-ly established in Poland. Fighter ways is another method of mak- upposition was quickly overcome.

difficult for

had German The Germans

the air ing life pulots returning from a raid themselves and day bombers mei |

with little opposition.

Three Messerschmidts

Downed

to

The same thing happened. 111 France, although the achievement was more difficult. France zal larger forces than Poland and have| Britain had a fighter force there which fought itself to a standstill. Yet numerical superiority anki weight of material finally achie v - ed supremacy in the air.

German Lesson

By day fighter forens matate sumlar ræds. In a recent sweep three Messerschmidt 105 were shot down and another damaged. On another occasion fighters exerted a squadron [1 tuanbers in a raid on Calais docks, which were hit and damaged Few enemy fighters appeared and the only opposition Was from it-aircraft batteries.

O a

2 raid

į

At Dunkirk

At Dunkirk the Germans learn- ed what the position would be larger scale was

when they opposed a fighter foster by many bombers escorted by

of sufficient Size with good well over 100 British fighters

equipment. They suffered heavy The targets were docks at Bou-

losses at Dunkirk, and in the fol- Ingne. Barges moored alongside

lowing period Britain Was able quays were attacked and three

to repair and replace wastage, so enemy fighters were destroyed by that when the Battle over Bri- Spitfires and Hurricanes. This dues not mean, however, that Britain is immediately pussing to the offensive across the channel. That would be exaggerated in view of the relatively small de- velopment of the attacks.

The modest opinion prevails in London, too, that the big winter Jull in the Nazi air activity has been due to the bad weather, and not the lack of hitting power of the Luftwaffe. No strategic oľ tactical considerations are involv- ed. Not only were the ae10- dromes of northern France un serviceable due to snow, flood and fog, but the actual Bying weather made systematic action Impracticable.

Severe Gales And Snow The importance of the weather

must be considered in all its bearings. The mere fact that it

tain starte, the fighter furre Wits in good shape. The Germans came up against a force of ex- cellent quality on familiar terri- tory with all the facilities esset- tial to its operation.

From this it scams clear that the day of day bombers has gone. at any rate when it is used as an independent wea.

It pon of attack.

may still have its uses in land-fighting at short range when protected by fighters.

It must return to the part to located it, that is, for coopera- which the Germans originally al-

tion with a land army. The in-

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casing efficiency of the offensive and defensive measures against night bombers, and the extinction

Hong Kong. of day bombers as an important

threat to British cities mark two

is a fine day or clear night in noteworthy developments in air

strategy and demonstrate that the Luftwaffe loses much of its po- wer and prestige once it meets with real opposition.

ONE-SIXTH OF ONE PER CENT

does one particular place

not guarantee good operational wea. ther elsewhere. Britain and Europe generally experienced a great deal of snow during the winter, together with severe gales. In addition to these local conditions over either the aero- dromes

targets or

concerned created an enforced lull. The weather, and not determined the respite. It was not a recurrence of the lull which As an indication of the result presaged the German drives оп of air raids over England it is in- Paris. It did not hide the details teresting to quote some statistics of the preparations of a new and recently revealed at a Board meet- terrific offensive although it un-ing of one of the largest building doubtedly hid the wastage in societies.

policy,

craft and crews The German Their activities cover a large. air force suffered heavy casual-part of the British Isles. Of the ties as a result of the weather, | 300,000 properties on their books and greater caution was · ‚ex-| a careful check-up revealed that ercised.

***480 buildings were destroyed.... During the bad weather, also, 2,000 were badly damaged - but. a number of German units were repairable. sent back to the Reich for over haul and, perhaps, rearmouring, including the fitting of armour plates for the protection of pilots. Thus the total damage has been; The full was a time to "mako less than a per cent., while des- and mend," rather than a strate- | truction has been only one-sixth. git' preparation."

of one per cent.

7,000 were slightly damaged windows broken, doors blown in or tiles broken.

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