TACTICS IN WEST

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 267, 4 December 1939, Page 4

TACTICS IN WEST

' C■ , ' GERMAN . .JESTS - ,T s t ' •;..*« ; ' V ’ LAND AND AIR FORCES PEAKS OF . NBLTKALS - LONDON, Nov. 13.—Military critics, who are carefully watching events on the Western. Front-, ' suggest- a variety of reasons for last week’s German movements'.* .Firstly, they remark on the peculiarities of the two attacks on Friday against still undisclosed sectors, of the Maginot Line, when ususuaily large formations of Germans advanced, with co-operating aircraft,, andl took up new p6sitioW under heavy French artillery lire. - ' ’ -* They then surprisingly retired .without awaiting a counter-attack. It is suggested that these movements were the first real rehearsals of a combination of land and air forces, which are at present an untried tuc-r K.VV tic against strong opposition. ' If is pointed onf that this method mu,st he developed under new conditions of warfare, and that the attacks are probably the prelude of a series, w'hicli will continue throughout the winter to perfect a new and fonuid.ahle technique. £ Secondly, although it is a known "German characteristic to crCjito aj display in one direction in order to distract the real intention in another direction, the demonstrations along tho Dutch frontier are considered tcL bo exaggerated to cover the Magi hot Line rehearsals. Belgium and Holland Thirdly,.the genuine agitation of the Belgians and Dutch supports the theory that Germany has informedthem that violent air and attacks are planned against Britain, and that these might necessitate German squadrons flying over Belgium and Holland and submarines sheltering in the territorial waters of the Low Countries. There is no suggestion that Germany would violate their neutrality intentional! v o-r cold-bloodedly, but- should military necessity so dictate, then the conventions of neutrality would he forgotten, it is suggested, and Germany would he compelled to “enforce” the sheltering of submarines and the use of coastal aerodromes for planes. It is suggested that Belgium and Holland might show an “indulgent ’ attitude. It is generally believed that German.v cannot afford to wait, but the necessity for showing some spectacular activity does not mean necessarily that there will be a large-scale attack anywhere in the west. .The German generals are reported to have advised that this would not be a sound: military move-’before the spring. Therefore, the Germans- are likely to be busy on various points oi the Western. Front testing the co-operation of land and air forces against heavilyfortified positions. Tlie scope of the air reconnaissances associated! with the attacks on Friday, and before the weather became worse on Saturday, justifies the conclusion that German interests extend far beyond the sector to which their opeiations are now limited.