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BOMBING REPRISALS

In his latest review of the aerial warfare Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary for Air, referred to a question that has been raised in various parts of the Empire. To many people it has seemed strange that the British air forces have not been used to exact reprisals on the German civilian population for the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Great Britain. Sir Archibald claimed that apart from the moral issue involved the truth was that "it would be a betrayal of the suffering of the people of London to divert any of our resources from military objectives in German or Germanoccupied territories." By using Britain's resources to hinder the German manufacture and transport of war material a greater if less direct toll was being taken from the enemy than would follow reprisals exacted upon the civilian population of Germany. The Minister added that encouraging reports had been received of the effect of the British air attacks upon specific military targets. They had caused, he said, a heavy fall in the industrial output of the Rhineland district. # • # * In such matters the people of Great Britain can but trust their leaders. They have certainly no desire to emulate the German tactics of wholesale slaughtdr of noncombatants unless it were shown to be the only means of diminishing similar attacks upon civilians in Britain. If for military as well as moral reasons it is a wiser policy to confine attacks to military objectives in Germany the sorely tried citizens of London and other industrial centres will be prepared to continue the endurance they have already shown and to bide their time until punishment can be meted out to the perpetrator of the wholesale murder of their fellow citizens and the destruction of their property. How stern that endurance has become can be learned from the latest reports of the battle of London, where indiscriminate bombing is fiercer than ever. Sir Archibald Sinclair made no attempt to minimise the seriousness of the German attacks, but he claimed that while the problem of defence against indiscriminate night bombing was a difficult one it was by no means insuperable. * # * # Following Mr. Winston Churchill's assurance that even greater attacks by air could be regarded with "sober and increasing confidence" the conclusion reached by their leaders should be heartening to the people of Great Britain. That these conclusions were justifiable was supported in a practical manner by a report of the Minister of Food describing the rapidity with which a temporary shortage of food in the London area had been overcome. This was not only an indication that Britain possesses reserves of food, but that the transport system in the metropolit.an area is still functioning satisfactorily. Meanwhile the stories of individual heroism, of community public spirit, and of single-minded devotion to duty no matter how grave the peril continue to increase and multiply as the days go by. They indicate how completely the Nazi efforts to break the spirit of resistance have failed and wil1 continue to fail. Not by emulating German barbarism but by strength of will and purpose is victory to be achieved. The strength must be expressed in terms of warfare. No other expression will appeal to those who believe and act upon the belief that force must rule the destiny of mankind. Britain's fighting strength is increasing daily. The end of the period of endurance is not in sight. But that phase will pass and the stage arrive in which she can take the offensive, nor pause in her course until victory has been won.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19400920.2.46.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1940, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
593

BOMBING REPRISALS Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1940, Page 6

BOMBING REPRISALS Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1940, Page 6

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