A DIVERSION IN THE WEST

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23448, 1 October 1941, Page 10

A DIVERSION IN THE WEST

Sir—l have noticed recently in English papers an agitation for a diversion hj. the West; and although a permanent occupation is hardly possible, a large scale raid of destruction has much to recommend it Of course toe War Cabinet and Imperial General Staff, in ■whom we can have great confidence, are alone in a position to judge, it does seem that such an opportunity is unlikely to offer itself again. Consider toe position. We are masters of the daylight air. and thus our shipping losses should be inconsiderable’ we have with us a sympathetic population, almost in open revolt; toe defences are spread over an immense coastline and must be manned by second-class German troops or Kalians, Against this, there must be In England now almost 3,000,000 /troops, from which 30,000 could safely be detached without endangering the defences pf Britain itself. We would be prepared for a hasty retreat—no hurried, disorganised withdrawal like Dunkirk. Already the Axis Powers find themselves with no surplus troops and such ’a diversion might have a great influence on the cEastem campaign and the policy of Vichy France, while the Immediate aflfect of the destruction of

Nazi aerodromes, industries, and bases in France would be profound. It must be admitted that there is a very strong case against this, but let us hope, nevertheless, that our leaders are not deterred by visions of another Dunkirk. i,e., an inferiority complex. -yours, etc., HAM AND EGGS, September 29, 1941.