The Evening Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1939. THE WAR AND AIRCRAFT.

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 6

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1939. THE WAR AND AIRCRAFT.

One of the greatest surprises in the present war has been the immobility of the German aircraft so far as raids on British cities and seaports are concerned. The opinion was widely expressed that a massed attack over England would synchronise with the outbreak of hostilities. Two reasons for the failure to adopt such a plan may bo suggested. The first is that the German air forces have been heavily engaged i.i Poland. According to an estimate by the United States Ambassador in that country 5,000 planes were employed. At first they were engaged on military objectives, and then they turned on the hapless civilians, slaughtering them without mercy. This accords with a Prussian theory, adopted by Bismarck, that in wartime the harder the conditions made for the people of an invaded country, the sooner will their resistance cease. There is no doubt that the German losses resulting from the Polish operations will be heavy, so that the air force arrangements will need considerable readjustment. Another explanation of Britain’s immunity so far may be the hope entertained by the Nazi leaders that those who are directing the AngloFrench campaign will bo ready to consider peace proposals now that Poland has been conquered. Ibis is a miscalculation. There can be tio compromise while Hitler and his associates continue to keep the civilised world in a constant state of anxiety and tension. When the general position to-day is considered it is realised what an enor-

mous advantage accrued to Britain and Franco through tho Munich development. It gave thorn the opportunity, which was promptly seized, to strengthen their defences on land and eca, and in the air, and to co-ordinate their plans for meeting an offensive against them. In tho case of Franco tire peril that obtruded itself made tho people forget their domestic quarrels in support of tho common aim of crushing Hitlerism. In an article in tho ‘ Spectator ’ discussing the air exercises in Britain in August, Mr Nigel Tangye, an experienced airman, said that a year previously they revealed tho country’s weakness, while last month they gave eloquent testimony of the strength of tho defences. In his opinion tho future could be viewed with some confidence, because tho picture of inevitable destruction that was presented in tho black days of last September had been consigned to the national box room along with other faded relics. It was not claimed that British cities would bo immune from damage, but it did mean that tho damage would be confined mainly to the initial stages of the war, and that as tho war progressed the defence would rapidly smother tho attack. At the conclusion of the air exorcises Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding spoke these heartening words: “ I am satisfied with our progress, and I confidently believe that a serious air attack on these islands would bo brought to a standstill in a short space of time. I should like to leavo you with a feeling of quiet confidence in our defence organisation, while not neglecting wise precautions to tho effects of such attacks as do get through.”

Germany’s adventure in Poland, though with the aid of Russia it proved highly successful, must have taken a considerable toll from the Nazi resources in men and war materials. Some advantage would bo gained by what was captured from the Poles, but it would not be likely to offset the German losses, nor to compensate for the strain experienced under modern war conditions. In the meantime Britain and France have had time to test their defence arrangements, to make good any deficiencies, and to prepare for a campaign that will be vigorously prosecuted till victory arrives.