'LUXURY' STRENGTH

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1940, Page 7

'LUXURY' STRENGTH

BRITISH AIR FORCE SOON CONCLUSIONS OF SURVEY London, Sept. 2. The total damage all over Britain to industrial plant and production from the German day and night bombings is, so far, no more than "troublesome." This verdict is contained in the latest authentic survey, covering the complete damage for the United Kingdom up to the weekend. The expert who prepared the survey was instructed to make an intimate analysis in order to enable the authorities to draw the worst, rather than the best, conclusions. One conclusion from the survey is that about a month hence— provided that the Germans, in the meantime, are unable to accomplish the wholesale shattering of factories and dislocation of supplies, Britain's air -strength will attain "luxury" dimensions. It is obviously impossible to publish details. C-ne surprising and encouraging feature is the way in which some factories, after being damaged, are able to carry on and repair affected areas in a relatively short time. Damage Contrasted. If the facts could be revealed - they would answer completely the question that many people are still inclined to ask — why the damage done by the Germans to British military objectives is almost negligible, whereas it is claimed that British raids have caused havoc in many of Germany's industrial centres. The facts still are that Germany's day raiders rarely reach a military objective unmolested, being invariably turned back, while her night raiders are mostly a ■

unable to identify their targets, and even when they do they generally aim badly. Tlie devastation caused by Bntam s night raids on the Reich is not only -due to highly efficient navigation, coupled with very accurate bomb-sighting, but is \ also due to the fact that the raiders, in j ever-increasing numbers, make a con- , certed attack on their objectives. Just what the effect will be in the - coming weeks as the air force attains those | "luxury dimensions" may be judged | from previous results. _ j Herr Hitler continues to hurl his air | might at Britain. By day the enemy j seeks to get at the airfields and great m- , dustries encircling the heart' of the Em- ■ pire. By night he assails more distant industrial towns, when, although the tar- | gets are more difficult, he finds less inter- . ference. I Primarily, however, Ilerr Hitler is seeking to smash Britain's fighter defences. It causes him no concern what his losses are if his goal is attained.