The Press FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1940. Civilians’ War

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23130, 20 September 1940, Page 8

The Press FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1940. Civilians’ War

The British Broadcasting Corporation’s news bulletins and propaganda talks have tended to create the impression that the systematic German bombing attacks on London are, from a military point of view, pointless and indicate that the German air force, having suffered disastrous losses in its attempts to bomb military targets, has resorted as a last expedient to indiscriminate frightfulness. It is certainly true that in this latest phase of the battle for Britain civilians have been the principal sufferers. In the first fortnight of September, according to Mr Churchill,, air attacks caused 10,000 casualties, of which only 250 were in the fighting forces. And it is probably true that in their attacks on London German airmen have been less conscientious than formerly in their efforts to find military targets. But to assume that the bombing of London is a departure from Germany’s plan of campaign against Great Britain and has no other purpose behind it than to weaken civilian morale is to fall again into the error of underestimating the strategic and tactical astuteness of the German High Command. It is necessary to remember that London is not an “ open ” city in the sense of having no military establishments or war industries; nor has the British Government ever sought to have it recognised by the belligerents as an “open” city. On the contrary, Mr Churchill has told the world in most emphatic language that if necessary.it will be defended street by street against an invader. This does not mean that, in international law, the Gorman air force is justified in bombing the city indiscriminately; it does mean that the German air force may, according to the laws of warfare, attack military targets in the city area. The reasons why the British Government has not sought to have London recognised as an “ open ” city are fairly obvious. In the first place, London is the heart of the British railway system. If it were not defended, the enemy would be presented with an opportunity to disorganise rail transport throughout the country. Equally, if German bombers succeed in inflicting heavy damage on London railway yards, they will at least impair the efficiency of rail transport throughout the country. In the second place, as the seat of government, London can be compared to the switchboard controlling the vast and intricate mechanism of administration. Though some State departments have been moved to p-->vincial centres, and although there are regional authorities in readiness to function should there be an administrative breakdown, it has evidently been considered impracticable, and undesirable for reasons of morale, to move the whole machinery of central government away from London. In the third place, the position of London gives it an obvious strategic importance. To make it an “ open ” city would be to leave a dangerous gap in the defences of southern England. In the fourth place, there are some war industries in the London area. These considerations are sufficient to show that the bombing of London is by no means purposeless from the point of view of a Power contemplating an invasion of England. But there is another and more important consideration. The success of Jhe German campaign in the Low Countries and France was due in a large measure t6 the German air force’s inhumane but diabolically effective policy of driving the civilian, population on to the roads by bombing and machine-gun attacks, thereby impeding the movements of the defending troops. It is .therefore certain that the German air force would bomb any city, defended or undefended, if by so doing it could set the civilian population on the move and hamper military operations. This‘is undoubtedly one of the reasons for the bombing of poorer quarters of London; and it is significant that British reports now admit that London transport arrangements have been strained by a movement of population westwards away from the East End, where there is a shortage of deep shelters. The attack oh London is unmitigated brutality, but it is purposeful and logical brutality and fits in with the general scheme for the conquest of Great Britain. Londoners are now in the most literal sense soldiers in the front line; and it is by thfeir calm and heroism, not less than by the magnificent qualities of the British armed forces, that the German military machine will finally be broken.