A PUZZLING PEOPLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 29 August 1942, Page 4

A PUZZLING PEOPLE

It takes the British a long time to get going, but when they finally do hit their stride, they are rather magnificent, says an English writer in the “New York Times.” That concenti’ation of 1,000 bombers over Cologne in the space of 90 minutes, and repetition of the feat elsewhere within three days is a striking example. It took tedious, careful preparation, and it was a feat unmatched by the Germans. The full magnitude of the task of getting oif that many planes and of bringing them back to home ports safely can be appreciated only by a railroad man who is familiar with the problems of a train dispatcher. In addition to traffic problems there are organisational difficulties, such as marshalling extra gasoline supplies where they will be needed, and the loading of planes at different airports with bombs, incendiaries, or the cameras appropriate to the task assigned to individual aircraft. The size of this job can be understood only when it is realised that it takes between 40 and 50 people—mechanics, armourers, and other humbler heroes —to get each of those giant bombers off the ground. Yet when the job was done it was typical of the British that there was a modicum of crowing over the achievement and no gloating over the suffering inflicted on the enemy, but, on the contrary, relief that Cologne Cathedral had been more fortunate than some of those in this country.