Bombers Will Blast a Way To Victory

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1942, Page 3

Bombers Will Blast a Way To Victory

British Official Wireless.

Britain realises urgent needs of Russia.

Rec. 9.10 p.m. Rugby, Aug. 22. The Germans, who were at the summit of their power on land and sea and with their air fleets only slightly weakened, were trying to force a decision before the democracies could develop their full strength, said Sir Archibald Sinclair, Air Minister, in a speech at Swansea. Despite the blows and bloody losses the Russians had succeeded in inflicting, the German army remained the most formidable military force the world had ever seen, and they had already seized great wheat-producing areas and great centres of production. The Japanese had suffered heavily in recent months at the hands of the British, Australian and United States naval and air forces, but they were holding an empire rich in resources and were still strong. Germany and Japan were aiming to join hands through the Indian Ocean to exchange goods, and thus nullify the blockade, and they were conducting a tremendous U-boat campaign. Sir Archibald appealed to all to strive for victory. ' Every effort was dominated by the serise of urgericy. That was why Mr. Churchill : had flown thousands of miles to meet 'President Roosevelt and M. Stalin. Mr. Churchill, President Roosfevelt and M. Stalin were friends, and typified the friendship of the three great countries in war and in the future peace. They were summoning all to action, and they must' not be let down. Stressing the co-operation tfiat had been built up between the services, Sir Archibald referred to the Dieppe raid as an example of how the navy, army and R.A.F- could work together in the offensive against the enemy. He also disciissed the defence of Malta and the qo-operation of the services in the Libyan campaign. The services were working in a true brotnerhood of arms, and neither politicians nor anyone else should fall below their starfiard. "At hcme the Army Co-operation Command is preparing to give to our army when it returns ' to the . Cohtinerit— as return it will— the same close co-operation as the R.A.F. has given the , army in Africa," he said. "Niimerous squadrons in other commands, too, are being practised in close co-operation with the army." Sir Archibald added that the Bomber and Coastal Commands were growing ih Strength," and attacks on U-boats were steadily improving. The Bomber Command had struck repeatedly at German ports and industries, and' had hampered Germany's war effort with comparatively light losses to Britain. )- "Our Harvest Ripening." "We intend to press home our attacks on Germany ruthlessly," Sir Archibald said. "It has taken. and is taking, a long time to build up the strength of Bomber Command, but the harvest we have sowii through all the months of "patierit a'nd strenuous work is at last beginning to ripen. There is more than one urgent strategic requirement to be considered in deciding the e'mployment of our heavy' bombers,' but we' must not take our eye off pounding. German war iridustry and transport." ; The defences of the.; German cities were strong, he added, but bombers had been enabled to overcome the defences. In a few nibntlis' time four-figure raids wouid be less infrequent occurrences, and, in the meantime, the forces that could be. sent against Germany on any normal night could drop a heavier load