Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1941. AIR ATTACK AND DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1941. AIR ATTACK AND DEFENCE

the latest enemy bombings of the Clydeside and Merseyside, Hull and now London, bear witness, the probkun d the night bomber is still far from having been solved in Britain. Events over a period show also, however, that some progress is being made towards that, solution. In his recent extended survey of the expansion and achievements of the Royal Air Force, the British Air Minister (Sir Archibald Sinclair) made only cautious and guarded claims where enemy night bombing is concerned. He did claim, however, that gradual progress was being made towards a solution of the problems entailed and within the last, week or two evidence has been afforded that, this progress is already appreciable and of good promise.

During the first fifteen days of the present month, the enemy lost at least 35 night bombers over Britain and the British coasts (it has to be remembered always that only machines definitely known to be destroyed are entered in the British reports of enemy losses), as compared with the previous record lor a. whole month of 29—in September last. 11 is particularly noteworthy that of the thirteen enemy bombers destroyed over Britain on the night of March 13, no fewer than eleven were shot down by night fighters.

Much obviously remains to be done in defeating the night bomber, but there is every indication that already another considerable achievement is to be credited to the Royal Air Force and to the British ground defence organisation. Ihe danger appears that improved methods of dealing with night bombers may tell in some degree against Britain as well as in her favour, but the position meantime disclosed is that much greater losses are being suffered by enemy air formations flying at. a great height and engaging in indiseriihinate bombing than the enemy is able to inflict on British bombers taking all the risks entailed in the accurate bombing from low levels of selected targets. The standards of the Royal Air Force in this respect are known. It is known, too, that much of the enemy bombing of Britain is done by planes flying at a height, which makes accurate bomb-aiming impossible. These facts give greatly added significance to the increasing toll that is being taken of enemy night raiders on Britain.

British official reports dealing with the enemy’s recent heavy losses of night bombers have mentioned as agents of destruction night fighters, anti-aircraft guns, and “other unspecified means.’’ A partial indication of what these unspecified means may be was given by the military correspondent of the “Christian Science Monitor,” Dlr R. Maillard Stead, in a dispatch from London in January last, in the course of which he observed that it was then possible to say with assurance that progress was being made by the British towards minimising the menace of the German night bomber.

I am not permitted (he added) to indicate the lines of investigation upon which progress has been made that provides the British defence organisations with what they consider a solid basis for anticipation that the night bomber will be subdued fairly soon. I am, however, permitted to say that it relates to improved “predictor” instruments which can put anti-aircraft guns and fighters on to their targets with a greatly reduced margin of error. Already one type of light quickfirer, aided by the latest predictor contrivances, has shown that it can guarantee a hit within the first twenty shots.

Mention has been made also by the Canadian Air Minister, Mr Power, of a. secret device for defeating night-bombers—a device originated in Britain and on which American and Canadian scientists have been working and which Canadian radio mechanics have been sent overseas to help in operating. This device may be identical with that to which the correspondent, who has been cpioted refers. It need not be supposed, in any case, that success' against, the night bombers depends wholly upon the progress made in any one line of research and improvement of appliances. There is no doubt, that in this instance, as in others, contributions to the solution of a manysided problem are being sought and worked out from various angles, tn the increasing destruction of enemy night raiders over Britain of late, positive evidence has been afforded: of a promising measure of success in this necessarily difficult quest.

POLITICS AND WAR EFFORT

JN the course of some political bickering in the House of

Representatives last evening, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) indignantly repudiated and denied a suggestion that he would allow the policy programme of his party or anything else to stand in the way of the national war effort. Anything else, he declared, was as dust in the balance against the paramount duty of helping the British Commonwealth of Nations to achieve the victory for which it. is fighting.

This, in itself, is eminently satisfactory and strikes the right note of leadership. It may well be asked, however, whether our national politics and the relationships of our political parties might not be brought much more closely into accord with the standard enunciated by Air Fraser last evening. Irrespective of the merits of current contentions and controversies, the general condition that exists is one in which the pot of political party warfare continues to simmer and boils over at times. That condition, it may be added, is unworthy of the ruling spirit and outlook of the people of the Dominion, and certainly is unworthy of those who are fighting its battles, and those of the Empire and all free nations.

The corollary to putting the national war effort first is oyshould be that all political parties should combine and concentrate on making that effort as powerful and effective as is humanly possible. That assuredly will not be achieved by contention of the “Cofilin not Short” variety in or outside Parliament, but rather by a readiness on the part of all concerned to deal frankly on its merits with every problem that bears on the national war effort.

Contention arises chiefly over questions of economic adjustment and production. Some of these questions, particularly on account of the restrictions imposed on export trade by the war calls on shipping, are in themselves of great difficulty. Is there any reason, however, why ail political parties should not combine in helping to make Hie best, arrangements and adjustments that are possible, so that available national resources may be used to the best effect and advantage? 'Phis should imply neither wanton and unwarranted attacks on, for example, trade union rights and privileges, nor a determination on the part of any section of the community to hang on to benefits and advantages as if no life and death war were being fought. Al a time when men are fighting and dying for this country it is certainly not unreasonable that any ami every section of Hie community should be called upon for a measure of effort and sacrifice which would be unreasonable in normal times. Accepting and acting upon that standpoint, it should be possible for our (political parties and political leaders to set a vastly better example of harmony and of loyal union of effort than, on the whole, they are setting at present.