BRITAIN’S GAINS IN WAR

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23330, 16 May 1941, Page 9

BRITAIN’S GAINS IN WAR

ME AMBRY’S REVIEW

“NATION’S ENERGIES MUST BE FULLY USED”

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, May 14. The Secretary of State for India (Mr L. S. Amery), speaking at Coventry, said that to judge the actual war situation it was necessary to see it in its true perspective. “A year ago the German Army and Air Force were sweeping irresistibly across Holland and Belgium,” he said. “Within a few weeks the splendid army of France, the mainstay of European freedom on land, was shattered like a pane of glass into helpless fragments and France herself, dazed and bewildered, allowed herself to be handed over, bound, and gagged to the merciless conquerer. “Here, we had a handful of trained soldiers salvaged miraculously at the sacrifice of all their equipment and a larger force of men, both untrained and unequipped for modern war. Nothing was wanted to assure for Hitler that triumphant entry into London, the date of which he had already fixed, but a few days’ command of the air over the Channel and southern England, and for that he looked confidently to his overwhelming air force.

"While the heart of the Empire was thus in immediate, deadly peril, General Sir Archibald Wavell, at its mam gateway in the Middle East, was facing Italian forces three or four times stronger than his own on each side of him. What has happened? "The air battle of Britain last autumn, the world's first great air battle, and perhaps its most decisive one, has pul an end to all Hitler's dreams of walking into and over our unarmed England. “The air And submarine battle covering both Britain and its 'Atlantic approaches is in progress. It calls for all our energy and skill to meet it. We shall see it through, and however long it continues Hitler will be no nearer the goal of his ambition here than he was when he gave up the first battle of Britain six months ago. “In the Mediterranean, General Wavell’s brilliant campaigns not only annihilated both the Italian armies that had been so laboriously assembled for his destruction, but actually enabled him to do what no one could have dreamed of last autumn, dispatch a substantial force to support the Greeks in their heroic and most amazing stand against overwhelming forces. Effects of Balkan War “The strain thrown upon Germany in the wholly unexpected campaign In the Balkans may well have thrown out of gear the whole of Hitler’s plans for his victorious march across Turkey. Its effect upon Germany’s communications and sources of supply may well indeed, only be felt fully in the course of coming months. Together with our, unconquerable Greek allies, we hold Crete with its immensely important strategical position. What is far more important than these purely military gains is proof that we have given to the world that we know how to stand by our friends.”

Emphasising that this is a total war, nqt only in the sense that all share its dangers, but that all must be in it to the last ounce of energy. Mr Amery added: “It is a matter in which every Individual has his own personal duty to fulfil. It is also a matter In which It is for all who are naturally or officially looked to for leadership to give a clear lead, whether they be employers or trade union leaders, members of Parliament, or Ministers of the Crown. No existing vested Interests or habits or usages must be allowed to stand in the way of the fullest utilisation of all the energies of the nation. All tracks must be cleared for the way of the Express Unlimited." SPITFIRE’S SHORT CAREER CRASH INTO SEA IN FOURTH ACTION (8.0.WJ RUGBY, May 14. The story of how a Spitfire, which was presented to the Fighter Command by members of the Royal Observer Corps, accounted In various engagements for three Messetschmitt 109’s before it was destroyed recently in a fight against odds is told by the Air Ministry. The Spitfire was at first flown by the commanding officer of a squadron, and when the squadron went Into combat with nine Messerachmitt 109’s. the commanding officer got their first victim which was shot down from 20,000 feet. Two days later the squadron carried out a surprise attack with the Observer Corps Spitfire leading and shot down eighf Messerschmitt 109’s into the sea off Dover. On this occasion the commanding officer shot down his second enemy aeroplane. Some time later the same Spitfire was flown by a pilot who-had already shot down three Junkers 87’s and one Messerschmitt 109. With its new pilot it became engaged with a large forr mation of Messerschmitt 109’s, The pilot of the Spitfire was attacked and went into a vertical dive for some 20,000 feet. By brilliant .handling, he pulled the machine out of its dive and the pursuing Messerschmitt plunged past it into the sea. That day the Royal Air. Force squadron lost ho machines, but at least five Mefiserdamaged. The final action of the Spitfire presented by the Observer Corps took place some days /ago when a flight was attacked by a superior force of Messersebmitt 109’s and It ended Its short, but effective career in the sea. The pilot was rescued. Another Spitfire given by the Royal Observer Corps £ad already taken part in offensive patrols over the north of France and had also been part of escorts for successful bomber operations. •»