GERMAN TACTICS COSTLY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21210, 5 September 1940, Page 6

GERMAN TACTICS COSTLY

Because aerial warfare of the kind that is raging in Western Europe at the present time is a comparatively new development, it is not surprising that Germany is changing her tactics. When she finds one method too costly and insufficiently productive of results she changes to another. Thus after a lull in the attacks she has resumed the offensive in full blast, more particularly at night and with a larger number of fighters to escort the heavy bombers. It was clear that daylight raids that resulted in the loss of 1000 planes last month could not be continued indefinitely.

Night raids may have a greater nuisance value, but because targets are more difficult to locate the damage to military objectives is less severe. The Nazi airmen by widely scattered raids also hope to disturb the rest of millions of the British population and thus lower their productive efficiency. The new tactics have had the effect of slightly narrowing the margin of losses between German and British machines, but British airmen with their superior machines and tactics will no doubt find an effective counter. The difference in losses is still far too great to give Germany any sense of satisfaction with the results of the raids. Indeed, the loss of personnel particularly, at the rate of about seven to one, must be the cause of the gravest anxiety to the German Air Force.

Worst of all from Germany’s point of view is the fact that the British nation shows not the slightest sign of breaking down under the strain. In fact Britain presents a more solid to the enemy than when large-scale raiding began. At this rate of progress Germany must be aware that she is pouring out her lifeblood on a vain project. Expert opinion in Britain contends that Germany will make greater efforts yet. But the larger the number of raiders she sends over Britain the greater are her losses, and on the present knowledge of the position it is a mathematical problem when the German Air Force must desist out of exhaustion. As the British force grows stronger the rate of German losses should increase, both at home and abroad. Britain’s capacity to withstand punishment is one of the important factors, and in that regard convincing proof has already been given