NEW PROBLEM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 8

NEW PROBLEM.

TROOP TRANSPORT.

ATTACK IN REAR.

NAZI TACTICS DESCRIBED

HANGARS UNDER HILLS.

Germany's use of parachute ami air transport troops io now recognised as ono of the serious problems with which defence authorities must cupe. British military authorities have already organised large numbers of first class troops to back up their newly-trained "parashooters"' ami are taking up steps to meet this method of attack in the rear.

I have obtained new facts concerning (■'ennany's use of parachute and air

transport troops ami the manner in which she protects her a\iatinn fioni enemy bombers by I>■ ii!< 1 jug nmleruioumi hangars (\\iilc> (iuy Murehie. a correspondent in Fondon of tno Chicago "Tribune ). The operations of parachute troops were discussed bv an observer who was in Berlin before the war. He received from the Germans an explanation of their tactics and saw their pictures of the new offensive arm. In addition, the German army magazine, "Die Wehrmacht." in its issue of Janu-ary-February, 1930. published drawings and descriptions illustrating an attack problem. From a witness who saw them built come the facts about the Nazis' underground hangars.

'Planes Open Parachutes. In operations since the war was opened the Germans are reported to have dropped from low altitudes, using a quick opening device to snap open their parachutes. This is made possible by the use of ;i cord some 20ft long connected to the inside roof of the 'plane. When a man jumps this cord is paid out and its end pulls out the top of the parachute, finally snapping off when the man is actually dangling front the open chute. This eliminates, the need of the juniper pulling a ripcord and practically guarantees the immediate opening of the parachute. It enables men to be dropped within 400 ft of the ground and makes it more certain they will land op the desired spot. The time from 'plane to the ground is less than 10 seconds, making it difficult for foes to shoot the men descending.

Apart from using this method to drop spies, saboteurs, islands of resistance, and troops to occupy fields on which transport troops "planes can be lauded later, parachute troops have a (dace in an attack on entrenched or well fortified positions. How this may be done was told by "Die Wchrmacht" as follows:—

The Germans are facing the enemy in a position beyond a small river, with the enemy entrenched in a sloping hillside beyond the bank of a stream. Enemy howitzers are placed behind a ridge of hills, with ammunition and supply depots farther back protected by anti-aircraft guns on fairly level ground. Because the ridge over the river has been destroyed by the enemy and because the enemy howitzers command the river area, it *s almost hopeless to try to send armoured lorries (trucks) to tlie river with materials to build a bridge to enable a crossing and rushing the enemy defences.

Waves of Bombers Attack. 'therefore the (Germans attack first with sudden intense <1 K'e - bombing raids on the enemy anti-aircraft guns behind the enemy lines. Within a few minutes waves of bombers drop hundreds of bombs around tlie guns. The bombs are fused to explode at varying times, some on contact and some at intervas for the next lo minutes. As the gunners arc not protected by gunshields or turrets, they must duck to shelter. While the bombs are still exploding other aircraft dive in low, raking the positions with machine-gun fire, thereby stealing the initiative from the defenders of the back area.

1 ransport troop 'planes then swoop down, and the parachutists land by the time the bombs have stopped exploding. The parnchuters get out of their parachutes by unsnapping a quick release gear a? boon as they feel the touch of the ground, and immediately use auto-' matie rifles and machine-guns landed in cylinders from other parachutes, furiously Attacking the anti-aircraft guns and the howitzers, too, if possible. While this is happening, troop carrier "planes land along the roads or Adds and 30 or 40 fully equipped soldiers pile out of each. They attack the entrenchments on the ridge from the rear, creating a diversion among the firrtt line defenders, whose artillery bv now is preatly weakened. At ~ this moment amphibian tanks and bridge

building troops cross the ri*er and the enemy's front is attacked before he can command the eiuiatioi) iu his rear. The tactics illustrated 'by this problem make it necessary for all militarv positions to provide both fror.i and rear defence®.

Russian Idea Improved. Ihc Germans took a. Russian idea and with Teutonic thoroughness perfected tactics and trained thousands of specially selected, daring, athletic,' and fervent Nazi* who now form the spearhead of this new air arm, making necessary t!u> organisation of manv times their number by the Allies to act as a defence, in case they are used. Because the Nazis use high grade and daring fighters as parachutists and air transport troops, and have armed the men in most modern manner, with automatic rifles, machine-guns and light mortars, as well as all manner of disguises, the Allies must use first-class troops as a defence against them.

Ihe Germans are far advanced in the practice of camouflage. After studying colour and designing patterns to blend into the surrounding landscape, thev liavo planted their 'flying fields with grasses of various colours in patterns resembling farmlands. .Air force quarters are disguised as villages, often with streets loading from real villages nearby.

Many German air fields are built v '* 1 ' largo hangars underground for protection and concealment. This is

well known now. hut until recently Allied engineers scoffed at the idea of building vast hangars underground because of cavein-problems. The manner of construction etill is not generally known, but a witness who eaw these underground hangars being built in Germany before the war described their details for the London "Times," and enabled the accompanying sketches of two specific instances to be made. Hillsides are cut away to provide space for these hangars in some instances. and in some the earth removed is dumped into the vallev between hills to make flying fields. In other cases the fields above the reinforced concrete hangars are used as airports, while nearby tiie Nazis build what appears to be antique villages to house the air force personnel.