The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1939. A FORTRESS WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20042, 14 September 1939, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1939. A FORTRESS WAR

It has long boon regarded as an established truth that, in the final analysis, adequate land forces, well armed and well led, are always likely to prove the most decisive factor in a struggle between major warring nations. Some commentators on the World War attempted, however—but without success—to make out that the Allies’ victory in 1918 was due, in greatest -measure, to the demoralisation of Germany and the other nations associated with her on account of internal dissensions that owed their birth to the shortage of food and of raw materials that was enforced upon them by the Allies’ naval blockades,But what they completely overlooked was thys: that, when Germany and her partners were, in turn, compelled to cry “Enough!” the armies of each of them were in the process of being overwhelmed and their nationals had become panic-stricken. Not in the slightest degree does a true representation of the position detract from the great part that was played by the Allies navies (and, more particularly, by the British fleets) in enabling the conflict to be brought to a successful issue. In strict fact, the Allies' mili-

tary forces were absolutely dependent upon the Allies’ navies for the regular and sale transportation to them not only of reinforcements but also of war materials and of food supplies. Still, it is certain that, in the end, it was the determined armies of the Allies which were most dreaded by Germany and by her confederates. This is a point that might well be borne in mind at the present juncture, when Britain and France are, with the utmost expedition, again mobilising their man-power. On this occasion, also, weight of numbers in the case of the British and French land forces (backed by the invaluable aid that they will receive from the Allies’ naval and air forces) is again going to ell—and tell in no uncertain manner. There is, seemingly, much speculation as to how, and when, victory on the Western Front will, in the renewed conflict, be accomplished by the Allied democracies. It will be agreed, on every hand, that the conditions governing the struggle in that seat of the war have no parallel in

military history. If one studies the accounts of the Italo-Abyssinian conflict, for example, it will be found that if resolved itself into a contest, over a widely scattered area, between a very weak nation which lacked modern implements of war and a strong nation which was well served by mechanised troops and by large fleets of aerial bombers. In the case of the long drawn out civil war in Spain, it was not until towards its close that die political faction which eventually proved victorious was able to displaj marked superiority in the matter ot fighting appliances—and, then, thanks only to surreptitious help from Germany and Italy. Unquestionably, also, flie war that is still raging in China is of a very difficult character, for ‘the defenders are not so well organised nor so well armed and led as the invaders and the fighting is taking place at numerous points over a very large area. In Poland to-day, oui gallant eastern allies have had to face lightning strokes by large Nazi mechanised armies on three fronts and, until their armies can be reorganised on a single and much shorter line, they will not gain the advantage even of proper entrenchments. On the other hand, the struggle on the Western Front must resolve itself into quite a new type of conflict—one based on rival lines of formidable fortresses. It will, indeed, resemble that which took place there during the World War only in that both sides will again utilise huge armies. In connection with the fresh clash of arms in that sphere of operaions. air warfare will also be carried in to an extent that has never pro/iously been witnessed. On this oeca:ion, co-operation on the part of huge air fleets will, it cannot be doubted, greatly hasten British and French military supremacy. It may be recalled that in September, 1938—Munich month —the Allies vere ill-prepared to attack Germany, even although the Maginot line had been completed, had she then launched the struggle. Indeed, General Gamelin (Chief of the French War Staff) told Britain’s Prime Minister that, whilst he felt certain that the Maginot line could not be broken by Germany, he was not quite sure that the French and British armies could shatter the Nazis' Siegfried line. Without delay, Mr. Chamberlain insisted upon an immediate conference of the /British and French war stall's to discuss this important “ matter. The British authorities, it seems, made it perfectly clear, from the outset, that in the event of another conflict on the Western Front, there must he no repetition of the World War tactics (based on the French theory of attack) which necessitated the sending of immense forces, from time to time,

“over the top" behind artillery barrages that might, or might not. have proved successful in breaking clown the enemy’s wire entanglements and in destroying his “pill boxes,” thus leading to an excessive sacrifice of manpower, It is the new form of offensive that was evolved at this, and subsequent, conferences that is now being so successfully used by the Allies’ troops to-day in their efforts to gain possession of the vast ‘‘no man’s

land” lying between the rival fortress systems. Under the vastly improved system of attack, the troops secure not only every advantage that is desirable from a sustained artillery barrage, but they are also shielded in that 'they advanced behind a moving wall of armoured tanks or armoured cars.. It was, in addition, impressed upon France, at the conferences arranged by Mr. Chamberlain, that she would require to do her full part in the building up of huge Allied air fleets which could not be matched even by those of Germany. From that day, work on the production of aerial bombers and of armoured tanks was speeded up to a remarkable pitch in France as well as in Britain. The Allies’ air fleets have already proved that they are indispensable. So greatly are they feared, indeed, that it won’t be long before the civilian residents of all the German industrial centres in which arms and munitions arc manufactured will have had to be evacuated. In the end, it may not be necessary for the Allies to shatter the Nazis' western wall of steel and concrete. When it becomes in danger of being isolated, a hurried withdrawal of the troops manning it is bound to take place.