CHANGE IN NAZI TACTICS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23108, 26 August 1940, Page 7

CHANGE IN NAZI TACTICS

FAILURE OF MASS

RAIDS

“BATTLE HAS ENTERED SECOND PHASE” (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) (Received August 25, 9.20 p.m.) RUGBY, August 24. There has been a change in the tactics of the Nazi air war on Britain which may prove only temporary, but it is quite obvious; and there is some speculation in the press as to its significance. In the place of mass daylight raids, there has been a series of hit-and-run attacks by aircraft, singly or in small numbers. These tactics were in general continued last night and this morning. “The Times,’’ discussing the enemy’s air tactics, suggests that the battle of Britain has entered on a second phase. “The first phase consisted of a very heavy air offensive, lasting about a week,” says “The Times.” “The result is not in doubt, but it is possible that wp do not even now realise the extent of the victory. That victory was won by the Fighter Command, well supported by anti-aircraft batteries, searchlights, and balloon barrages, and-counter-action by bombers and the A.R.P. services.

“A not inconsiderable loss of life and destruction of property was suffered by the defence, and some military damage also, though nothing serious even where most devastation has been wrought. Even in south-eastern ports and seaside towns which enemy bombers could reach within a few minutes of rising from their aerodromes, neutral observers, who have been allowed to go where they would and see what they would, have been astonished to discover how small has been the damage. “The losses of the attack, on the other hand, exceeded all our hopes. Wave after wave of bombers, supported by fighters, came over to deal death and destruction, and went themselves to that fate. In the first attack on Croy-

don. for example, not one Gorman aircraft escaped, and not one pilot returned to report what he had done or what he had seen. It may well be that this series of battles will be long remembered in the story of warfare as the first instance, of an offensive on a great scale carried out entirely by an air arm under circumstances as favourable as it can usually hope to find, and routed with great loss.” “The Times” concludes: ‘‘The second phase, like the first, leaves us so far unshaken. We are well aware that far heavier trials of our defences and our spirit may be in store. We know that instead of, or simultaneously with, a further offensive against this island, a strong campaign may be launched in the Mediterranean against our Fleet in those waters and our forces in the Middle East Command, and on the Suez Canal. Whatever may come will be met in the same spirit. “We know, too, for certain, though we hardly doubted it, that if an invasion of Egypt should be attempted—and Egypt includes the Western Desert up to the Libyan frontier—Egypt will fight and her forces will serve beside our own. Apart from material reinforcement, the spirit in which this declaration was made is welcome.

“A difficult, even critical, period may be ushered in with the third phase. But there is reason to hope that when wo have fought our way through that, our worst perils will be over. The fourth phase should be easier to meet. The fifth—who knows—may mark the first counter-offensive.”

Turning to the sporadic raids to which the German High Command appears to have reverted, “The Times” observes: “The amount of damage likely to be caused by such incursions is very slight, the amount of military damage practically nil. The proportion of aircraft shot down to those which have come over has probably been nearly as great as in the mass raids. On the whole, it seems likely that this stage represents merely an interlude between two offensives.”