ROYAL AIR FORCE PLANES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20058, 3 October 1939, Page 5

ROYAL AIR FORCE PLANES

NIGHT RECONNAISSANCE TRIP

LIKELY TREND ON WESTERN FRONT INCREASED ACTIVITY IN AERIAL WAR British Army Improving Readiness For Action (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. October 3, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON) October 2. The Air Ministry announces that further successful reconnaissance flights by day and night have been carried out by the Royal Air Force over Germany. The night reconnaissance journeys included flights over Berlin and Potsdam. ,

Paris reports that Germany is sending up further reinforcements, which are now around 50 divisions, to the Siegfried Line, but there still is no sign of an offensive. French newspapers estimate the German forces to be only a third as strong as at tlie end of ,tlie last wait A The German air strength is estimated at from 3000 to 4000 machines.

lii a message to the New York Times from, Paris,..,the military correspondent, Mr. G. 11. Archambault, states that the indications are that aviation is likely to be most prominent on the Western Front in the near future. “Hitherto, planes have been employed chiefly in correlation with ground troops, but it is now probable that the air forces will be called oii to act increasingly independent of other arms, using their-own strategy and tactics,” he continues. “German planes from Poland are massing at Kassel half an hour’s flight from the front. The new phrase will come when.the virtual stalemate on the Rhine and Moselle ends. There was a promising beginning followed by prolonged ‘strategic waiting’ in the expectation that the German High Command would reveal its hand, but it seems in no haste to force a general battle. Tt is estimated that the forces defending the West Wall and held in reserve behind the wall are twice as numerous as four weeks aim. yet there are no signs of massing at any:point.” T Pressing On With. The Job.

According to “Eye-witness,” who is attached tq the British military forces in France, the British Army is pressing on with the job of improving its readiness for action with every day that passes. The British Tommy shows his opinionof any Hitlcr-Stalin peace proposals by ,the inscription which now seems to he chalked on every other lorry’: “Berlin or bust!” Mountains of freshly-arrived material appear on the quaysides and are spirited away again with almost magical rapidity. “When I visited the scene newly unloaded lorries were standing spick and span in neat rows ready to continue the journey under their own power,” adds “By e-wit ness.” All the countless requirements of the army seemed to be represented. Nothing, however, remains very long piled on the quays.” , - F

He added that the minutely-organised system of transport set it on the move for it's final destination tvithin the shortest possible time. To control .this ceaseless activity the organising headquarters was working at full speed. '