MASTERY OF THE SEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 300, 2 October 1939, Page 5

MASTERY OF THE SEA.

HELD BY BRITAIN AND FRANCE. FLAWS IN GERMAN ARMY. NEW YORK, September 29. The Paris correspondent of the “New York Times” says the premilinary stage of the war may be considered ended. It has shown that the German Army is a swift and terrible "weapon, but also that Britain and France are undisputed masters of the sea, in spite of the first outburst of submarine successes. The British and French air forces have proved that they can more than hold their own with the Germans. The question seems to be, vdio will the first, and it will undoubtedly be the German people. Herr Hitler is believed, for other reasons than, his oft-proclaimed love of peace, to be not wishing to attack the Maginot Line or seek other means of invasion. There are flaws in Germany l s armour which even the accord with Russia is 'insufficient to mend. One of these is that the system Herr Hitler has built is most personal, and the willingness of Germans for sacrifice depends on a continued belief in a Hitler Germany. Already this belief has been shaken. Germany is fast becoming “Hitler plus Stalin,” which is not a good war-cry with which to attack the Maginot Line.

The military correspondent of the “New York Times,’’ Mr G. H. Archarn-ba-ult, in a message from Paris, states that the effect, of the Russian-German accord on military operations 'seems to be that the Allies must continue their strategy of watchful waiting. The German peace offensive at present dominates the situation. Some suggest that the Nazis are banking on the Allies’ determination to avoid “rash offensives,” and may be satisfied with guarding tlie West Wall while they consolidate tlieir diplomatic and economic front in East Europe and the Balkans. The retort to this is that- even with the Russian, and, possibly, other aid, the mastery of the seas will tell eventually. During the watchful waiting, only minor actions can he expected. Neverless local operations are important when correlated with preceding operations, the general purpose being to place the French advanced lines in a position favourable for future progress or for withstanding a German offensive if or when it comes.