WILL WIN THE WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21177, 29 July 1940, Page 7

WILL WIN THE WAR

BRITAIN’S GREAT AIR STRENGTH BRING VICTORY OVER NAZI TERRORISM GERMANY AND ITALY KNOW TO THEIR COST ' (Official Wireless) (Received July 29, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 28 There is growing insistence in the press comment on the vital work of air power in hastening the hour of victory over Nazi terrorism. Air correspondents of the Sunday newspapers dwell on the gradual swing-over of the scales of production in Britain’s favour. Full confidence is expressed that the British lead in quality will be maintained. The Sunday Times devotes a leading article to the subject, under the heading “ Air Power Will Win,” observing how the war news is now air news. The Times says: “ Nor do appearances belie the facts. At any moment some new German stroke may bring the armies or navies into prominence, but today neither one nor the other can avail without air-power. France lost her fine armies because she had no adequate air force. Poland failed, too, before her. We ourselves were kept out of Holland and southern Norway, despite our great naval superiority, by reason of Germany’s superiority in the air. “ Furthermore, as the war proceeds, it is to air power that we must look for the means of taking the offensive. Therefore the need for building many more aircraft than Germany is disputed by no one. “ Production, however, is only one part of the problem. The other is the best use of aircraft. Some uses are marked and inescapable, but there are others about which the balance of political and even of expert opinion may vary considerably. “ Britain stands in a better posture than her enemy for securing the best use of her available air resources because of the organisation of her air defences being based on recognition of the three independent but co-operative arms.”

Independent Striking Arm “In Germany, for instance, where socially and politically the tradition of the Army dominates, the Air Force has been least valued, above all for the purposes of army co-operation. In Britain, which was the first country to place its Air Ministry on a separate footing from the War Office, the Air Force, while indispensable as an adjunct of both the Army and Navy, is in its main use an independent striking arm, in which capacity it is essential that it should be allowed to develop freely strategy and tactics of its own today. With the British Navy and the German Army, each supreme in its own sphere, yet neither able to penetrate the enemy’s territory, this British conception may well offer the best way round the deadlock. We ought boldly to develop it. The daily and nightly offensives which the Royal Air Force conducts against enemy objectives point mainly toward supremacy in the air and victory in the war. When we have magnified our effort many times, as we can and ought, the war will end with Germany’s prostration.” “We Are Not Shut Up” Mr J. L. Garvin, in the Sunday Observer, writes: “They speak of a siege of Britain. Let us distinguish. We are assailed. We are not shut up. We are neither invested nor beleagured. The island is a fortress with a difference. Its maritime connections are open wide as they ever were. Its shipping and sea-power range the oceans. After more than ten months of war our mercantile tonnage is larger than ever and the Navy in all its annals has never held more potent command. The military forces of the Empire can be carried surely from every part or to any part. Without ceasing supplies from every continent from round the globe come to the island. “We are fighting this war near and far not as a surrounded fortress but as ’an historic world power, which has Britain as its main base. If Britain were besieged in the ordinary sense of being surrounded, she would be unready, her world communications would be cut off, and by that fact the whole Empire would be broken. "Instead we retain, both by sea and air, the widest powers of attack and ecuntcr-attark. This both Germany and Italy know to their cost. “While we hold out at home we can create new military power, able to take strong offensive overseas in the wider battle for the Empire. These truths apply directly to the immense theatres of the Mediterranean and North Africa, and beyond these should be our arenas of iniative and attack.” FIGHTING IN AFRICA RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS OVER ITALIAN SOMALILAND ENEMY PLANE CRASHES (Official Wireless) (Received July 29, 12,15 p.m.) RUGBY, July 28 A Nairobi communique states: Yesterday was quiet. Our aircraft carried out wide reconnaissances over Italian Somaliland. It is reliably reported that an enemy aircraft crashed on July 15 between Mendera and Moyale. The Lord Mayor of London's Red Cross Fund rose on Friday by another £SOOO iuid now stands at £2,406,000.

RUSSIAN NAVY LARGE-SCALE DISPLAYS STAGED IN EVERY PORT PACT WITH AFGHANISTAN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlftit) (Received July 29, 11 a.m.) MOSCOW, July 28 The wireless states that large-scale naval displays worthy of Russia as a great sea-power were staged in every Russian port in celebration of the Soviet’s second National Navy Day. Comprehensive exercises were held at Vladivostock. The Pravda reveals that a SovietAfghan trade agreement was signed at Kabul. This is a “further step towards strengthening Soviet-Afghan relations.” MUSSOLINI’S BIRTHDAY JUMPS 19 HURDLES RARE PRESS INTERVIEW (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) ROME, July 28 Mussolini will celebrate his 57th birthday on Monday. He showed newspaper correspondents how he is keeping fit. Riding round the ring at the Villa Colonia he cleanly jumped his horse over 19 hurdles, including an obstacle of sft. 2in., although a cavalryman following him dislodged the top bar. The Duce afterward spoke to a newspaper man in German, saying: “Am I sick? Am I tired?” He smiled and galloped off. It was the first press interview he had given for - three and a-half years. Mussolini was born at Predappio, in the Romagna, where his father was the village blacksmith. His fellow dictator. Hitler, is nearly six years his junior. Hitler was 51 in April. CANADIAN AIRMEN FIGHTER SQUADRON ARRIVES SOON BE IN ACTION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, July 27 The first Royal Canadian Air Force fighter squadron to reach England will soon be in action, using Canad-ian-built Hurricanes. The squadron-leader is a veteran with more than 2000 flying hours to his credit, and 10 of the pilots are from the original No. 1 Fighter Squadron. Other pilots are auxiliaries from Montreal, while 83 of the ground staff were trained under the Empire training scheme. When the squadron arrived in Britain it was a complete unit—complete with Hurricanes built in Canada, and a motor transport section. The auxilaries from Montreal, like the English and Scottish auxiliaries, come from all jobs and every Province in the Dominion is represented. The Canadian airmen were fully trained on Hurricanes before they left Canada, and their present period of final refresher training is to make doubly .sure that, when they meet the enemy they will definitely be on top.