AFTER 25 YEARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 180, 1 July 1940, Page 3

AFTER 25 YEARS

CRITICISM HOLDS GOOD Just 25 years ago, at a time when the Allies were hard-pressed by their German foes, scientist and author, H. G. Wells, wrote a letter to The Times. That letter might have been written, not in 1915, but in 1940. Its message is as vitally important to-day as it was in those darkdays. • Because modern wars are essentially wars of gear and invention." wrote Mr Wells, "there is urgent need for Great Britain to bring to bear all her imaginative enterprise and the utmost resources of her scientific knowledge. Fighting Methods. "The German methods of fighting have been changed repeatedly,"' he continued. "Germans have introduced novelty after novelty, sowing their cause unexpectedly and destroying the Allies." "The only novelty Britain has pro duced has been recruiting posters!' Insufficient Aviators. Mr Wells complained of a lack of organisation in aviation. "We have," he said, '"insufficient aviators, and Ave have dribbled out an inadequate supply of machines, while we have not provided a large, powerful aeroplane capable of overtaking and (Testrojang a Zeppelin. "War is a technical business. We want an acting sub-government of scientific and competent men highly specialised for the task. "I do not see any great hopes o-f a glorious and satisfactory triumph unless our politicians organise the immense resources of science." I