RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 6

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events (By Kickshaws.) America, it is stated, has completed her plans for “M-day.” After mobilization we shall be intrigued to see what they make of “X-day.”

It is stated that no stone is being left unturned to increase the coal output of this Doininiou. Not every coal business can afford to be so candid.

After reading Ribbentrop's latest propaganda find, we can only hope that the hordes of British Brigadiers apparently roaming round Norway with pockets stuffed full -of highly secret political documents won’t get in the way of troop movements.

Consideration of military movements in Norway on both sides may perhaps be brought into better focus if it is realized just what it means to move a large body of troops from oue place to another. They can either walk, train, or bus to the destination. Each method has its own problems and disadvantages. Not many people are able to appreciate what one division on the march looks like. The task is perhaps reduced to some sort of perspective when it is realized that the total road space occupied is about 18 miles. A division marching to Wellington would have its tail far up the Hutt Valley when its head had arrived at the General Post Office. It is therefore ridiculous to say that a division has arrived at such-and-such a place unless more specific details are given. It, is also obvious that a division on the march cannot deploy for battle at a moment’s notice. The process may take several days, depending on various factors which are controlled in every case by the type of country involved. ♦ * #

If a division is moved from one place to another by train at least 15 trains will be required and probably more depending on the type of railway system and various factors of that nature. Entraining and detraining is a slow process involving careful staff work. It is virtually impossible in the face of the enemy. It can be disorganized by hostile air attack and usually both entraining and detraining takes place at night. Nevertheless, there are vast problems for the railway experts to solve because on single track liues each train must be disposed of after it is empty. A division moved by bus is up against problems not dissimilar to that of travelling by train. The road space required to move a division by bus involves at least 25 miles. Indeed, a division on the road from Levin to Wellington would occupy a space greater than the distance between Wellington and Paekakariki. Obviously careful planning is required to dispose of the 'many hundreds of buses required for the journey, their refuelling and their control on the road.

Moving troops iu large numbers has been enormously complicated by the danger of air attack. Troops on the march either by train, bus or just shank's pony, are extremely vulnerable to air attack. It will be seen, therefore, that the initial task of getting Allied troops into position in Norway is formidable. There are bound to be setbacks and delays. The task fortunately is just as great for the German troops. It is usually not practical for a large force, such as a division, to live on the land through which it passes. It is difficult, moreover, for the force to carry even a week’s supply of food. The daily demand of food and supplies amounts to 40 or 50 tons, or in the case of numerous battles several times that total. The further the force moves from its base the greater the task of supply and the more vulnerable the line of communication. Moreover, iu Norway several forces advancing along parallel valleys are separate problems, uuable usually to make contact with one another.

In addition to the accepted methods of transporting troops, the air now affords another and very speedy method. The large troop-carrying aeroplane can take 50 men. Three hundred air trips would be required to move the personnel of one division plus another 300 trips for the bits and pieces. This requires good aerodromes at both ends, suitable weather and command of the air. Subsequent supplies must largely come by other means, assisted partly by air. ’ The aeroplane is more, useful to keep various isolated units supplied with food and ammunition. The siege of Khartoum would have been vastly different if there had been aeroplanes, as would have been the sieges of Ladysmith Kimberley aud other sieges in the Boer. War. Nevertheless, it is improbable that aeroplanes alone could keep even one division going with all the various types of supply required, in a country guch as Norway, where landing grounds are scarce, snowstorms frequent, every form of communication will be surrounded by many unpredictable factors.

It is reported that the Germans in Norway are advancing with tanks and other mechanized units. A battalion of tanks can cover long-distances provided fuel supplies are available. Nevertheless. 200 miles in three days is about the limit they can travel, including fighting one battle. A normal day s march probably does not exceed 50 to 70 miles. Armoured cars on the other hand can cover greater distances up to 200. or even 250, miles, but these distances could not be kept up indefinitely. Problems of moving mechanized units is closely associated with fuel supplies. An average light tank must refuel every 150 miles, aud heavier tanks every 60-100 miles. Some idea of this problem may be had from the fact that 100 tanks require- 25. gallons to the mile. Moreover, another aspect of the fuel problem was revealed in the Ger-man-Polish campaign, in which 1,600.000 gallons of fuel 'were used in three weeks. Reports that oil tanks in Oslo have been bombed- and burned are therefore very significant.

“I understand that 90 per cent, of the world's gold currency is buried in America and is likely so to remain, says ‘‘Puzzled.” "If that gold were suddenly destroyed by, for example, some corrosive substance, what difference would that make to the people of the United States or of any other country? P.S.: Candidates please note-ex-tra marks given for brevity.” [Kickshaws has no desire to be drawn into problematical issues of economics. From the chemical aspect it is perhaps pertinent to point out that the gold could not be destroyed. It would still be recoverable. Gold, after all, is only a lubricating system for the wheels of commerce, primitive mini found a nice sharp flint axe of greater value, but then he never tried to commercialize flint axes.] There was a young lady named Ruth Who had a great passion for truth. She said she would die Before she would lie. And she died in the prime of her youth. —Unknown Author.