RUTHLESS AIR WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23702, 9 October 1940, Page 7

RUTHLESS AIR WAR

Terroristic Nazi Methods Britain More Confident Than Ever Mr Churchill Summarises Month’s Bombings (Britiah Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, October 8. (Received October 9, at 11.38 a.m.) On first rising in the House of Commons Mr Churchill said: ■“ A month has passed since Hitler turned his rage and malice on* to the civilian population of our great cities, particularly London. He declared on,September 4 that he would raze our cities to the ground, and since then he has been trying to carry out his foul purpose.”

Mr Churchill then proceeded to make a detailed examination of the results of the German air attacks, beginning with an attempt to assess what part of the enemy’s strength had been affected —necessarily a “ matter of speculation.” Recently barely 400 heavy long-range German bombers had visited Britain every twenty-four hours and, as advised, the British Government was doubtful whether this rate of sustained attack ' could be greatly exceeded by the enemy, though no doubt concentrated efforts could be maintained for a few days at a time. The Prime Minister mentioned in this connection that after a very severe mauling on August 15 the German short-range dive-bombers had been kept carefully out of the air fighting—perhaps because they were being held back for use in invasion or in some other theatre of war. At any rate, the German heavy bomber pilot* were being worked at least as hard as the British and perhaps harder. The strain upon the Germans appeared to be 'very considerable, and the bulk of them did not seem to be capable of much beyond blind bombing. “ I hesitate to say anything of an optimistic nature because our people do not mind being told the worst but they resent anything in the nature of soothing statements which are not borne out by events, and after all war is full of unpleasant surprises. On the whole, however, we may, I think, in all respects reach a provisional conclusion that the Germans’ average effort against this country absorbs a very considerable part of their ■ : potential strength. I should not like to say that we have the measure of their power, but we feel more confident about it than . we have ever felt before.”

Discussing the effect! veil ess of the ruthless mid indiscriminate attacks, Mr Churchill cited figures to prove that it now required one ton of bombs to kill three-quarters of a person, compared with one killed by every ton of hombs in tho last war. This remarkable and to some extent reassuring fact—to be accounted for by improved methods of shelter —had affected the estimates the Government had made in advance of the probable casualties. “ Whereas when we entered war at the call to British honour we expected to be suffering losses which might amount to 3,000 killed in the space of one night and 12,000 wounded, and had made hospital arrangements for 230,000, as a result of air bombing 8,500 have been killed and 13,000 wounded, between September 9 and October 5. The destruction of property, however, has been considerable, though it is easy to get an exaggerated impression of that matter. SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE. Declaring that neither by material destruction nor by slaughter would the people of the British Empire be turned from their inexorable purpose, Mr Churchill went on to speak of the remarkable spirit of the people who had suffered by German frightfulness. “ In all my life I have never been treated with so much kindness as by the people .who have suffered most. One would have thought,” exclaimed the Prime

Minister, amid cheers, “ that I had brought them some great benefit instead of blood, tears, and sweat. On every side there is the cry ‘ We can take it.’ ” With a less numerous Air Force Britain was inflicting more damage on the ' war-making capacity of Germany than Germany was on Britain’s, but he went on to warn the public that the winter would not bring relief from cruel and terroristic bombing. Long, dark months of trial and tribulation lie before us,” said Mr' Churchill. “We must be united. We must be undaunted. We must be inflexible. Our quality and deeds must burn and glow through the gloom of Europe till they become the veritable beacon of its salvation.” Mr Lees Smith, following Mr Churchill, referred to shipping losses. He said the whole naval situation would be changed if Britain could have ports on the west coast of Ireland. He ventured to say that the City of Benares accident would probably not have happened if we had been able to use Lough Swilly. *• Our children and sailors are drowned and ships sunk weekly because the Navy is refused access to ports of part of our Commonwealth which but i for the Navy would be where Denmark, Norway, and Holland are to-day,” he > added