War Day by Day

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1940, Page 6

War Day by Day

(By Our Special Observer.)

Comment on the News German Tactics in Air Losses in Blitzkrieg

Exactly one month has separated the two biggest bags of raiding Nazi aircraft on England. On August 15 the day's aggregate was " 180 planes, and on September 15 185 planes. In the interim there have been some very satisfactory totals, notably that of August 18, when. the Germans paid the heavy price of 152 machines. During the first week of the August blitzkrieg the enemy losses averaged 70 aircraft per day, with the British average just over 16 machines. The second week saw the Germah daily average down to 34 per day, and . the Royal Air Force losses to just under seven machines., Following this disastrous blow to its strength in planes and even more unwelcome shock to its fighting personnel, the Nazi air command changed its tactics and conccntrated its daylight attacks upon the aerodromes of the Royal A'.r Force fighter command. The lack of success of this scheme to impair the fighting efficiency of the British home defence plan is made clear by the fact that the early August loss ratio of four and a half to five German planes to one British plane has been stepped up in the latest massed daylight assault to six Nazis to one British machine. • • • It is interesting to recall that during the first phase of the Nazi shock tactics many people found it difficult to accept , the British figures as accurate, but now even sceptical American journalists on the spot report themselves convinced that the Air Ministry is "playing square" with its communiques. What is Behind It All? The changes in the tactics of the German air command during the month have aroused considerable speculation upon what is behind it all. The first four of the massed night attacks upon London appeared to offer the most promising prospect of somethipg tangible in the way of reward to the air terrorists. But on the fifth night the full force of London's anti-aircraft barrage, which had for some reason been held back until then, was felt by the Nazis, and not only were they checked materially, but| the spirits of the Londoners were boosted by the infinitely more pleasant nocturnal harmony of their own guns. t The question that is now causing the livps* interest is, does this switching of air strategy show a determination to discover the most satisfactory method ■ to prepare Britain for invasion, or does it portray that the German air staff is^ at its wits' end to find a means of pleasing its Fuehrer? If a plan does exist it is obviously so tortuous in its complexities as to be incomprehensible to the ordinary mind. One is reminded of a remark of Palmerston's on the Schleswig-Hclstein question, which was linked with the succession to the throne of Denmark and was extremely complicated. Palmerston said that only two people had really understood it and that one of them was in a lunatic asylum and the other dead. A One-act War? Whatever the German High Command has in mind, it is hard to reconcile the strategy it has displayed during the past month with the frequent appointments that have been made on its behalf for a parade through the streets of London. The most likely view of the many that have been advanced seems to be that the very speed of the conquest of France ! outstripped the plans laid for the future. j It has been said that the German strategy is one that concentrates on -a oneact war and is therefore a strategy of defective endurance. If the curtain had descended upon Act 1 of this war with the British army and air force trapped or decimated in France and Flanders, then it may well be that the German scheme would have worked out. But the British army escaped from Dunkirk and the Nazi army swept on through France with its' job only "half completed, and it is possible that there the German plan came unstuck. The Germans may like time to formulate a new plan, but one of their major complications is the possession of an unfortunate friend in the Mediterranean who just cannot afford to wait upon events. French Naval Movements. The movements of the thrge French fight cruisers and accompanying destroyers is a happening upon which the light of official interpretation will be awaited with particular interest, very much so because the Vichy Navy Minister h'as announced that the movement has the imprimatur of his Government. To pass from Toulon out into the Atlantic they would pass the British control point of the Mediterranean at Gibraltar. It must be assumed, therefore, that the movement was made with British cognisance and permission. This would indicate a drastic change in British policy towards the French navy. Two months ago French ships were being sunk by the Royal Navy, and now some units are being allowed the highway of the seas. The mission of the ships is said to be to protect the trade routes with Dakar and Casablanca and other ports where much-needed foodstuffs are awaiting shipment to France. But France is being : blockaded by the Royal Navy to prevent ! foodstuffs falling into the hands of Bn- i ! tain's enemies, and one has not heard i of ihe resumption of diplomatic relations between Vichy and London. Two weeks ago it was hoped that French West Africa would join other French African possessions in proclaiming allegiance to the cause of General de Gaulle, but with Vichy warships based on Dakar it would seem to have a very poor chance of doing so. It is I evident something interesting is going on behind the scenes, and it is not unlikely that some inquiring politician wili want to know exactly what it is when • the House of Commons meets this week. It may be that in view of projected liveliness in the Mediterranean the Royal. Navy is desirous of seeing those active French units elsewhere, but to have them on the British line of communication on the African west coast would not seem to be a very desirable "elsewhere." It -may be, of coursq, that the Vichy report is a matter of putting a good face on a bad job, but to say Ihe least the whole topic is one of intriguing interest to the British cause. M. Blum to Pay. | The arrest of M. Leon Blum, one- time Socialist Prime Minister of France, and his incarceration with other former Premiers of the Republic is an interesting comment on the zeal with which the Vichy Government is prosecuting its aim of obliterating figures around which any dissension in France's political life could I rally. The government of the extreme right ' wing is itself shot with division. While Pierre Laval remains the potent figure ! behind the Petain facade the Germans are less likely to find satisfaction as time goes on. If any man can create trouble „ between the Axis partners the man is 'Laval. The reckless foreign policy of M. iBlum's Government created bittfer enmities for which France was to pay dearly. Now it seems that M. Laval has d.termined that M. Blum shall iumself do some paying.