The Waikato Times SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1941 RENEWED AERIAL WARFARE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 8

The Waikato Times SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1941 RENEWED AERIAL WARFARE

Aerial warfare across the English Channel has again flared up. A foretaste has already been given of what may be expected as the spring advances. It was generally expected that Germany would soon attempt to force the issue before aid from the United States reached full effectiveness, but the initiative has not been left to the Nazis by any means. The Royal Air Force has just made perhaps its most destructive attack upon Germany and the “ invasion ports ” along the western face of Europe. German raids on Britain also have been intensified, and it is notable that larger numbers of night attackers have been brought down than ever before. Certainly the numbers destroyed are small when compared with the toll taken in daylight raids, but it is evident that British night defensive tactics have improved. Germany will face a very different proposition this spring. Last year she sent her aerial armada against a Britain tragically unprepared. Even then the Nazis failed to achieve their objective. They caused heavy damage, but they failed to injure the British morale, and they suffered definite defeat- in aerial combat. Since the beginning of the war Germany has lost 4250 aeroplanes compared with Britain’s loss of fewer than 1800. But on both sides enormous building programmes have been progressing. What the comparative strengths of the two air fleets now are few people know, but what is certain is that Britain is far more favourably placed to meet any action in the air that Germany might undertake. And Britain’s resources in materials and building capacity have expanded into a gigantic industry which is now coupled with America’s incomparable resources. If Britain could withstand the aerial attack last year she has every reason for confidence now. The Nazis have made references to great reserves of aeroplanes which they will release against Britain at the appropriate time, but that story is now taken with a pinch of salt. Undoubtedly Germany can send a very formidable fighting force across the Channel. She has done so before and will probably do it again. But her need to reduce Britain was so desperate last year that it is certain that she used something like her full available fighting strength. Her reserves may be great, but for every machine in the air there must always be a number in reserve. For every bomb the Germans drop on Britain at least one, and perhaps more, will be dropped on Germany. Is it to be supposed that Britons are any more likely to give way under the strain than the Germans ? The latest attacks on Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg and Kiel are only an introduction to what is to follow this spring. The apparent inertia that previously hampered Britain was caused not by lack of will but by lack of the engines of war. That lack is being made good at an increasing rate. Italy has been reduced to a state of almost impotence in the air by the loss of at least 1100 machines. Germany is a more difficult and better prepared enemy, but henceforward her airmen will have to meet a foe who need no longer remain on the ground and accept punishment.