INVASION PRELUDE?

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 258, 30 July 1942, Page 5

INVASION PRELUDE?

August Air Campaign NEW YORK, July 28. The discontinuance by the R.A.F. of its 1000-plane raids is almost certainly a prelude to the opening of a second front, says the New York “Post.” It estimates that Britain can dispose 5000 first-line heavy bombers, 5000 medium bombers, and more fighters per square mile of its territory than any other belligerent—all this apart from the American air forces in England. “Once started, the air offensive cannot let up, even for a few hours. It must be carried on till the opposing fighter craft are permanently downed and communications smashed beyond repair,” it says. “Three weeks of such an assault would make the landing of an army comparatively easy. When one considers that the R.A.F. can have no good reason for holding so many of its bombers at home, except to organize them for an all-out assault on enemy territory, it will be seen that August promises the greatest air attacks in history. The Scripps-Howard syndicate continues to advocate making a second front by the destruction of German cities from the air. It recalls that in the heaviest raids over London no more than 350 tons of bombs were dropped and that the bombs dropped in two Coventry raids totalled 275 and 400 tons. The British 1000-plane fleets dropped 3000 tons at a time —enough to destroy 10 square miles. British Public Pressure. Lord Strabolgi, in a speech in London, warned the Labour Party that there would be a deep and extensive political reaction in Britain if the Russian Army ■was crippled without Britain’s and America's growing forces in the west striking a blow. Britain had had 13 months and America eight months to prepare for ■ this contingency, he said, and the British public would not accept excuses for any seeming inaction. Labour should leave the Government and prepare to form an alternative Government, in the meantime fully supporting the war effort. The “News Chronicle” attacks the statement of Mr. Bevin, Minister of Labour, that the advocates of a second front are causing division in Britain. It says: “.His statement will not be happily received in Moscow. Strategy is the Government's business, but. winning the war as quickly as possible is the business of all.” The Berlin news agency announced that General Rundstedt's technical staff has completed a detailed inspection of extensive and deeply-echeloned fortifications on the French north Channel coast. The fortifications constitute a system.of the most modern defence works on which tens of thousands of skilled workers have been employed for two years. Stockholm reports that a decree has been issued in Berlin authorizing the transfer of German industries from west Germany to east Germany.