1941-09-03 — Page 18

Page

THE CHINA MAIL, SEPTEMBER 3, 1941.

INITIATIVE IN WAR OF AIR

R.A.F. Hitting Power

Comparisons

After Two Years

(By Reuter's Air Correspondent)

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE NOW HAS THE INITIATIVE IN THE ANGLO-GERMAN AIR DUEL, THE REASONS ARE THREEFOLD AND OF EQUAL WEIGHT.

Eighteen months of strategic bombing of Germany's industrial and military resources and particularly of the Luftwaffe, Europe's pre-war air giant, is the first reason.

UNITED STATES COOPERATION UNLIMITED

The war with Russia which Germany embarked

upon in order to ensure her military and economic

position from the effect of this massive and care- fully-planned air assault, is the second.

Doubled

FERRY PLANE RUSSIAN DISASTER OFFICIALS

The RAF Ferry

Commander in Mom IN ALASKA

Mon-

treal announced yes- Five e Russian officials terday that the ferry

plane previously re-

have

arrived at

ported missing crash-Diego, Cal, and are négo- ed on a hillside in the United Kingdom. There were no sur- vivors. Reuter.

Finally, the growth in production of planes ADRIFT AT

and the intake of personnel both doubled in 12 months is having its inevitable sequel.

SEA FOR

It is probable that American and Russian aid the one long- expected and yet to reach its full measure, the other and quickly at its strength - combined to tip neat-perpetrators of last year's smash ly the balanced scales in this duel at the opening of the third and grab assault on the strong-

room of freedom. year of hostilities in the R.A.F.'s,

night the RAF is preparing the 41 DAYS

President Roosevelt's Labour Day speech is in- terpreted in Washington by authoritative circles as an indication of Mr. Churchill's success in en- listing United States in-favour. limited cooperation in the war with Germany.

tiating with the Con- solidated Aircraft Cor- poration for the pur chase of giant bombing. 'planes.

Officials of the Corporation ad- mitted that the Russian seaplanes which landed at Nome, Alaška, 'on Monday, carrying 47 passengers, had been secured from their 'tomn=' pany through a deal made in 1937.

There is considerable speculation way

final for the

defeat of

as to the purpose of the visit tyranny with the sinister relent- lessness of the combined force of

of the 47 among the Nome Officers and men of the population where the planes unheralded Scotland Yard sleuths and Fed- Merchant Navy receive re-landed to refuel, and it is thought

maximum eral G-men

cognition in the latest list American planes back to Russia possible they must be ferrying of civil awards given in the as most of them seem to be air- "London Gazette.”

A new air giant has arisen in Europe. It is not yet numerical-' These circles said the "Atlanticy a match for the Luftwaffe Charter" has now become the half of which is fighting on the United States* highest foreign| policy,

eastern front and half on the western front and the Mediter ranean but strategically and tactically it is in the supreme

out to crush the

Naturally. Tosses have in- orbased. Hitherto, however, the cost of holding the almost complete Initiative has 'beeh relatively small,

over

What is more, for every five planes the R.A.F. lost north-west Europe in July and August this year, at least four German 'defenders bit the dust. The Battle of Britain proved The cost of the Luftwaffe the R.A.F.'s power in defence the July-August offensive against beyond all dispate, The Luft-Britain last year was four to one in waffe lost 2,375 aircraft while 375 R.A.F. fighter pilots were planes. Here are the figures: killed. That is now (one whole.

1941, RAF. LOSSES 619, year past.

LUFTWAFFE 420.A.

President Roosevelt apparent ly had in mind Britain's war position. 'needs rather than United States; needs when he demanded the unconditioned self-sacrifice of American Industrial workers. It is pointed out by these cir- cles that the fact that two Labour cleaders, William Green and Philip Murray, are following the lead set by the White House towards Labour, shows conclusively that regimentation is now reaching every quarter of American Ufe, including Labour.-Reuter,

Battle Of Germany・

In the Battle of Germany now! being pursued by day as well as

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| 1940, LUFTWAFFE 1,938, R:AF. 347.

of

LOSSES

Certain Latitude

men.

*

Another suggestion is that that they are technicians com- Ing to discuss technical, pro- blema

five chief engineers, a second en- Five captains, two chief officers,

gineer, a donkeyman, trimmer, cook-steward, apprentice and two. seamen have won medals for their An earlier message said they bravery. Twenty-three officers were all fliers, mechanics and rad and men are commended for their operatops, led by Mikhail Gromoy conduct in face of enemy ships, veteran Arctic flyer, and that they [U-boats, bombers and mines. were all believed to be provided |with diplomatic passports-Reu- The British Empire. Medal.. ister. awarded to Seaman Evan Owen Griffiths, of Llandyssul, Cardigan-

shire.

em 1*N

No Significance International News quotes off- He lowered a Jolly-boat from @cial Washington quarters as stat- blazing ship, picked up men in ing the Soviet mission is to dis- the water, and then steered clear cuss technical matters in connec- of the ship, using floorboards as tion with American aid to Russia paddles.

and has no political or diploma- tiç significance, The personnel of There were biscuits but no the mission is believed to consist water in the boat, and the men of army officers and engineers. suffered thirst until heavy rain Even allowing for a certain latí-fell on the 11th day of their ordeal, tude in figures on air losses-a The biscuits were finished on the latitude which both sides enjoy 31st day. On the 41st day they these prove conclusively the tech were picked up. nical lead the R.A.F. gained with its eight-gun fighters in 1940 has been maintained with its faster, harder-hitting and higher-fying

When the badly wounded mas- fighters of to-day rising to the ter of a damaged ship ordered his world's fastest pursuit 'plane, the men to leave him and save them- 400-mile an hour Spitfire, the selves- Able Seaman Robert Hil most powerfully armed type, theton Percival, of North Shields, re- Bristol Beau fighter, with its four fused to go and tried to carry the cannon and six machine-guns, and master to the bulwark rail, aircraft with operational ceilings ¦in excess of $5,000, feet,

Saved Ship's Master TOBRUK

PATROLS ACTIVE

Four members of the crew who YESTERDAY'S MIDDLE EAS}]} were already in one of the ship's COMMUNIQUE SAID THAT British bomberm, besides boats clambered back on board DURING THE NIGHT OUR proving themselves better de- and helped Percival,

PATROLS * FROM TOBRUK fended than those of the Luft-

WERE ACTIVE.

waffe, are now, bóth: 'In re», The "Gazette" adds simply: ""Per-" modelled and new types roll- cival, by his selfless devotion, sav- In addition to inflicting casual- Ing off the assembly lines carry-led the master's Ilfe." He receives ties on the enemy in several dec- Ing bomb loads like the Short the British Empire Medal, civil tors they captured and occupied Stirling up to at least twice division."

the weight of the Wellington's original two tone.'

As the noted writer on vero-1 nautical. "mufters," "Major Oliver}} Stewart, "has written, ^aircraft. speeds have gone up something ilke 10 per cent, higher than 40 per cent. and loads and re- power, 100 per cent. in two years,

Keeping The Lead

EFFORT.

an enemy position."

During the morning there were heavy" diye-bombing, and whigh

The fores for this purpose is level bombing attacks. Despite the already a great before long yel strength,

will weight of the attacks, in which overwhelming about 100 aircraft were employed,

damage and casualties were negli-

Of The work of the Fighter gible Command, the review states its

immediate aim is to clear theIn the frontier area there was skies of France of German air-considerable enemy " shelling. craft" Just as the skies di Bri-Reuter.. |tain were cleared in 1940,

Search And Strike

two

In all these directions the R.A.F. has kept its lead and in Meanwhile the RA the American Bosing probably Command has expande

tha Chest bomber: years of war almost-

cognition. QASIR

Its watchword is "We Wearch and strike.

e-Air Ministry's revi

of

A.F

war

comes more blo

Command

astern front

THE REVIEW ADDS:

In two years there has not been ing day, in the Constal: rotwit

| WAR MAY SEE MANYERNEW, TASKS FOR THE BOMBER COMMAND" BUT STRATEGIC. ALLY BOMBING BY NIGHT ment WILL FOR LONG BE ITS MAIN beco

RAF TOLL OF LUFTWAFFE

enalny.

ther and

the vorst

fewer:

storms for TWO-

lera