RANDOM NOTES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 187, 4 May 1940, Page 10

RANDOM NOTES

Sidelights On Current Events (By Kickshaws.) Reading, it is declared, is largely a matter of optical training. In many cases, of course, it is a pretty good spectacle. t « « The clothes of cinema stars, it is stated, wear out quickly iu films. Most of the clothes that we have seen were little more than a film at the start. * » * A student declares that the leaning Tower of Pisa was built by an architect 16 feet off centre. Ou the principle, we take it, o£ bad hen bad egg. ♦ # It is useless to comment on the sensational developments in Norway without being in possession of facts which themselves have changed rapidly. Only history will reveal the true facta, and by then comment will be so long delayed it will be of no import. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Hitler has opened up a new and difficult front which at any time may have its communications placed in jeopardy. Moreover, it is obvious that the Allies are still determined to conduct operations in Norway, probably from bases further north, such as Namsos and Narvik. Furthermore, it should by now have become patent that troops cannot be asked to undertake impossible tasks against a force equipped with all the latest modern devices. Instead of a lightning effort to block the German penetrhtiou, the war in Norway shows every sign of developing into a ding-dong battle that may degenerate eventually into trench warfare. There is, however, a difference between the Norwegian situation and that in France. The Allies still have control of the sea round Norway, and can cut German supplies from the outside world along the sea routes.

The full price that Germany must pay for her adventure in Norway have not yet all been revealed. She has gained a footing at the cost of over onethird of her navy. This liberates naval forces which must cause Mussolini annoyance. Germany has lost many ships and has been forced to use up fcuge supplies of fuel. The fuel demand, moreover, must continue as well as the diversion of large air forces to keep the communications intact. She has made a piesent to the Allies of four times the mercantile losses caused by mines and submarines. She has furthermore denied herself access to the only practicable winter route for Swedish iron ore. It has yet to be proved that she will acquire worthwhile air bases for an attack on Britain, because this factor is a two-edged weapon. Britain can attack the German air bases. Moreover, it still remains to be proved whether Germany can build submarine bases in Norway. It is a difficult matter to build bases in war subject to air attack and even naval raids, than it is in peace time. A riming sore has been opened up in Norway which, if the Allies keep open skilfully, may yet prove a very troublesome factor to the Germans.

Possibly the most important aspect of the Norwegian operations is the fact that the German military authorities have developed a technique of military and air co-operation which will require novel methods to frustrate it. The information gained in Norway will no doubt be useful in other theatres of war if only it reveals limitations and nothing else. The last war gave us the artillery barrage and the present has produced the air barrage. Every new technique produces a counter technique, and it is beyond’ doubt that the German technique will be surmounted. One might indeed go so far as add that the technique of the Trojan Horse has at least warned other neutrals to look to their security before it is too late. One can work the Trojan Horse stunt only to a limited extent. It is probable moreover, that the gains that this method of access to Norway gave Hitler are even now offset by the very great losses and the certainty that the drain will continue. Already the operations must have accounted for 150,000 tons of valuable German fuel reserves.

It may come as a surprise to some readers when they read that an aeroplane flying three miles above the ground must release its bombs two miles from the target. The reason, of course, is that the bomb is travelling at the speed of the machine, some 300 miles an hour, when it is released. The motion imparted in this way continues after the bomb has left the machine. It is reduced only by air resistance, but the forward motion is still noticeable when the bomb lands on the ground. As soon as the .bomb leaves the aeroplane it is also subject to the force of gravity. This gives it an increase of downward speed of 32 feet per second, every second starting, of course, with zero downward speed at the moment of release. But for the fact that the air retards the downward flight of the bomb it would reach prodigious speeds from great heights- The air resistance, however, is such that the speed at which a missile hits the ground from a height of about 20,000 feet is roughly 600-800 miles an hour, or about the speed of sound. Moreover, after a certain distance the speed tends to remain constant, the force of gravity being just counter-balanced by the air resistance.

A bomb liberated from an aeroplane descends to earth in a curve which is the combined result of the downward motion caused by gravity and the forward motion imparted by the aeroplane. The result is that a bomb, when it strikes a building, may penetrate via the roof or via a side wall. The lower the bomb is released the greater the forward motion and the greater the chance that it will enter a side wall of a building. It is for that reason that head cover alone does not provide a complete defence. The best defence is a hole in the ground. Nevertheless, even then a depth of some 60 feet is required with a top protection of concrete and other bomb resisting materials if the heaviest bombs must be withstood. Moreover, even underground shelters must be armoured against the side thrust of the explosion of a bomb dropping close to the shelter. This side thrust is very great, and requires very thick defences tapering off as the depth increases. The problem therefore of complete immunity from the heaviest bombs is difficult, costly, and involves a long period for constructional work.

“Could you help settle an argument by telling me per medium of your good column if Anzac Day is observed as a holiday and called Anzac Day by the people* of England generally, or is it only recognized by Australians and New Zealanders resident at Home?’ says “C.S.” “If this is so, what is the English day of remembrance? My understanding of it is that Armistice Day is observed by two minutes’ silence and a parade of troops and laying of wreaths on the Cenotaph, but apart from that there is no holiday at Home. Is this right?” [Anzac Day is not observed as a holiday in Britain, although it is known by that name. - On Armistice Day the people of Britain pay tribute to all those in the Empire who died in the Great War. A two minutes' silence is observed.]