NOTES ON THE WAR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3268, 26 May 1943, Page 8

NOTES ON THE WAR

ALL IN AIR AT PRESENT LULL IN THE LAND WAR PREPARATIONS FOR BIG EVENTS The news these days is mainly of warfare in the air. No major land operations are reported anywhere, but the air war is rising to a new pitch, not only over western Europe, but also in Russia, and to a lesser degree—in the South-west Pacific. That the air war is a prelude in Europe to big events is generally conceded; the lull on land cannot last much longer, as there is a determination on both sides to “get on with the game.” In Russia both sides are massing for the big clash. No one knows which side will attack first. Berlin pretends .that it will be Russia, but Moscow emphasises the masses of the Wehrmacht moving up to the front.

Mr Churchill, who is a born strategist, spoke in his address to Congress at Washington of “Hitler’s expected third desperate throw against Russia.” Unless such is Hitler’s intention, it is hard to see why 190 German and 28 Axis satellite divisions should be massed on the Russian front. There is no need for so many for purely defensive operations. It is more likely that Hitler will try once more to deliver a powerful blow against the Red Army that will paralyse it for the rest of the sum-

mer, while he then attends to any attempts on the part of the western Allies to establish a “second front” in western Europe. That Hitler has now as ever “a rat on Russia” is sufficient reason for thinking that he will make the attempt whatever its chances of success. Meanwhile, the Western Allies continue their tremendous air offensive against Hitler’s Europe, including Italy, and are preparing to make it an “all over the map” as well as an “all round the clock” onslaught. Mr ■Churchill has definitely declared that the experiment is “well worth trying” of the “use of air power to bring about a collapse in 'Germany and Italy.” Italy has already received a warning of what will come to her and is showing signs of wilting. No part of Italy is immune from air attack now that all North Africa is in Allied hands. Allied Aircraft One of the most powerful arguments in favour of the alLout air attack is that the Allies have now developed an extraordinary variety of all types of aircraft for all sorts of purposes. Among the heavy bombers are the British Lancasters, Halifaxes and Stirlings for “cascade” night bombing and special jobs like the destruction of the Ruhr dams and the American Fortresses and Liberators

for precision day bombing of targets beyond the range of fighter cover. Both types have met with great success.

Even more successful in their own line are the British Mosquito medium reconnaissance bombers, which have five times bombed Berlin with negligible loss. The Mosquito is of special interest as it is constructed mainly of wood, including parts in the famous balsa wood from tropical America, the lightest material in the world. The Mosquito, with its peculiar 1 lightness and smooth finish, is the fastest bomber eVer built, and can out-dis-tance any fighter. Based on the design of the de Havilland “Comet,” in which C. W. A. Scott and T. Campbell Black won the Mildenhall-Melbourne air race of 1934, the Mosquito is a middle-wing machine of 54ft. 2in. span and 40ft. 9iin. length, fitted with two Rolls-Royce engines of great power. It is well armed with cannon and machine-guns, carries a large bomb load for its size and. a crew of only two. It has both long range and great manoeuvrability. The variety of Allied aircraft, each the best of its kind for the special job it has to do, is too large to enumerate fully here, but some of the more famous types, like the Hurricane and Spitfire, have been improved. The latest Spitfire, for instance, has a bigger engine, a longer nose, and a 4-bladed, instead of a 3-bladed, airscrew. Another version of the Spitfire, called the Seafire, has been adapted for use on aircraft-carriers. The Hurricane has been developed into a first-class Army co-operation machine, while the Beaufighter is ranked among the best of the nightfighters. In addition there are the American Lightnings and the Thunderbolts, with a large, number of specialised aircraft for transport, reconnaissance, and other purposes. Against these the enemy has little to show, the FockeWulf fighter being the only formidable newcomer since the outbreak of war.