GERMAN ANGER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 223, 9 October 1940, Page 7

GERMAN ANGER

RAIDS SHOW WEAKNESS AMERICAN VIEW * Reports from American observers in England indicate that British aircraft production and other essentia! items of the war effort have not been seriously impaired by the continued German air raids. Experts say that the fact that the Germans have concentrated on attacking London really betrays German weakness, since apparently the High Command Avas forced to make some spectacular move to offset the effect of R.A.F. raids on Germany. While all the communiques from Berlin stress the attack on London, intimating the belief that if London is destroyed the British will capitulate, leading American newspapers., in long articles, explain to the public that this is clever propagandA. Raids on London, though Undoubtedly destructive, must be regarded as just one blow, it is explained. It will take many blows, of greater force, than these, even to prepare the way for 'the threatened invasion, though the time clement may force Hitler to show his hand within a few weeks. Offsetting R.A.F. Raids. J. W. T. Mason, a United Press of America commentator, after point ing out that Germany had not released details of the devastation to German cities by R.A.F. raids, says that the destruction can be measured only by Germany's bitter expressions of anger. He suggests that the German announcement that British bombings killed 78 children and wounded 5, between May 10 and August 31 gives a, clue. "British figures show that German bombs in August killed one child to nine adults, and wounded one child to 11 adults/' he adds, "If that proportion is maintained for Germany, it can be estimated that British raids from Maj' 10 to August ;»1 killed nearly 800 persons and wound ed more than 600. "This would explain the necessity for Hitler and Goering to make som.-? sensational move to counteract the psychological effect of the British night raidings." A Gollup (public opinion) poll slioavs an increasing belief among Americans that Britain will Avin the v.ar. The survey shows that 4.'} per cent ol those avlio answered said that Britain Avould win, 17 per cent favoured Germany's chances, and 10 per cent were undecided.