BATTLE OF GERMANY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1943, Page 3

BATTLE OF GERMANY

OPENED BY ALLIED BOMBERS METHODICAL WRECKING. OF ENEMY INTERNAL STRUCTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, May 16. The unprecedented activity of the Allied air forces operating from Britain and elsewhere in the last week is no longer regarded in London as merely strategical bombing,, but as the Battle of Germany itself. Every sortie, whether by big bombers or single-seater fighters, has a single objective. The enemy’s whole internal structure is being methodically wrecked in preparation for the final concerted assault from land, sea, and air. The recent shattering blows against the German communications—the cutting of the main military arteries—can be expected to become more intensive. The Berlin radio stated: “Our fighter pilots and crews are living beside their machines, ready to take off day or night. Our anti-aircraft gun crews also are hard-pressed. They must be ever on the alert for surprises, specially from powerful four-engined bombers, which do not hesitate to attack our batteries even in the daytime. “Every man must now be at his post to meet, in hard and heavy engagements, any enemy onslaught against Europe.” HEAVIER BLOWS IN ALL WAR THEATRES. PROMISED BY AMERICAN AIR LEADER. NEW YORK, May 16. The British and American military leaders hope.soon to keep Germans in their bomb-shelters every hour of the day and night, said Major-General Ralph Royce, commander of the First Air Force. “Germany will feel this conflict to such an extent that it will forever more hesitate to start another,” he said. “The United States is preparing heavier blows in ail theatres of war.” General Royce stated that the highclimbing Zeros were no match for the Lightnings in combat at high altitudes. He revealed that Lightnings in the battle over ‘Tulagi Island in the Solomons on April 7 drove 11 Zeros to over 35,000 feet, where the Zeros stalled. The Lightnings destroyed seven and drove the remaining four to 25,000 feet, where navy Wildcats wiped them out.