The Waikato Times SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1940 GATHERING AIR STRENGTH

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21176, 27 July 1940, Page 6

The Waikato Times SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1940 GATHERING AIR STRENGTH

Britain’s confidence that Germany’s immediate threat to the British Isles will fail is well illustrated by the long-range plans laid for the conduct of the war. Production and purchase of the munitions of war provide not only for the immediate future but have regard also for next year and the year following. In aeroplanes particularly a staggering programme has been undertaken, indicating that Britain expects that one of the main perils, and one of the main means of eventual victory, will come from the air. Arrangements have been made to extend purchases from the United States to provide for the delivery of 3000 planes a month in addition to those already contracted for. British capital is to be employed to build new factories in the United States to supplement the already huge and growing capacity of America's own manufactories. Delivery of this maximum number of machines will not, of course, be possible for some time, but no time is being lost in increasing the volume of output. The United States has been amazed by the sums of money which Britain is prepared to expend, but high officials have no doubt about Britain’s capacity to pay. Britain has already purchased 12,000 aeroplane engines, which will be fitted to frames manufactured in England. Britain’s own production of aeroplanes is reported to be more than double that of last year, so that in spite of the wastage of war a mightily formidable force must now be available in the British Isles to meet the strength of the German invader should he make the attempt to force the issue. That Hitler will decide that he must attack soon or abandon his plans for an invasion is indicated by the developments of the whole situation. At the back of Britain stands the incomparable productive capacity of the United States which, if given reasonable time, will be able to blacken the skies with thousands of aeroplanes which Germany cannot hope to match. Britain has asked for 72,000 machines in 1941 and 1942, and in addition the United States plans to manufacture many thousands for its own defence forces. That prospect must be very disturbing to Hitler, and will perhaps convince him that he must attack soon or not at all. Hitler has, however, not yet abandoned hope of bringing Britain to her knees by means of the submarine and aerial blockade. Day by day his aeroplanes are. raiding the Channel and the North Sea, and Britain must employ a large aerial force to check his depredations. He is continually inflicting damage, but Britain is also taking toll of his aeroplanes, and happily still has a large reserve of shipping to call upon. Germany has been trying desperately to prove that the machines of the air have rendered naval forces out of date. The measure of success achieved, however, must be distinctly discouraging. Occasionally the bombs find their target but most of them fall harmlessly in the sea, and the German Air Force is paying very dearly for whatever loss it inflicts upon Britain. As time goes on the ratio of damage to cost must decline as Britain brings her full programme into operation.