BREAKING OF HITLER’S AIR WEAPON FORESEEN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25734, 21 February 1949, Page 6

BREAKING OF HITLER’S AIR WEAPON FORESEEN

CHURCHILL MEMOIRS,'

BOOK II

(By the Rt. Hon. WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL. M.W.J

XIV

When it was known how many men had been rescued from Dunkirk, a sense of deliverance spread in the Island and throughout the Empire. There was a feeling of intense relief, melting almost into triumph. The safe home-coming of a quarter of a million men, the flower of our Army, was a milestone in our pilgrimage through years of defeat. The troops returned with nothing Jjut rifles and bayonets and a few hundred machine-guns, and were forthwith sent to their homes for seven days' leave. Their joy at being once again united with their families did not overcome a stern desire to engage the enemy at the earliest moment. Those who had actually fought the Germans in the field had the belief that, given a fair chance, they could beat them. Their morale was high, and they rejoined their regiments and batteries with alacrity. Personally I felt uplifted, and in my iflind drew easily and freely from the knowledge I had gathered in my life ; I was exhilarated by the salvation of the Army. There was, of course, a darker side to Dunkirk. We had lost the whole equipment of the Army to which all the first fruits of our factories had hitherto been given: 7000 tons of ammunition. 90,000 rifles. 2300 guns. 120.000 vehicles. 8000 Bren guns. 400 anti-tank weapons. • Many months must lapse, even if the existing programmes were fulfilled without, interruption by the enemy, before this loss could be repaired. AID FROM AMERICA

However, across the Atlantic in the United States strong emotions were already stirring in the breasts of its leading men. A precise and excellent account of these events is given by Mr Stettinius, the worthy son of my old Munitions colleague of the First World War, one of our truest friends. It was at once realised that the bulk of the British Army had got away only with the loss of all their equipment. As early as June 1 the President sent out orders to the War and Navy Departments to report what weapons they could spare for Britain and France. At the head of the American Army as Chief of Staff was General Marshall, not only a soldier of proved quality, but a man of commanding vision. He instantly directed his Chief of Ordnance and his Assistant Chief of Staff to survey the entire list of the American reserve ordnance and munitions stocks. In 48 hours the answers were given, and on June 3 Marshall approved the lists. The first list comprised half a million .300 calibre rifles out of 2,000,000 manufactured in 1917 and 1918 and stored in grease for more than 20 years. For these there were about 250 cartridges apiece. There were 900 “soixante-quinze” field guns with a million rounds. 80.000 ma-

chine-guns, and various other items. In his excellent book about American supplies Mr Stettinius says: “Since every hour counted, it was decided that the Army should sell (for 37 million dollars) everything on- the list to one concern which could in turn resell immediately to the British and French.” The Chief of Ordnance, Major-General Wesson, was told to handle the matter, and immediately on June 3 all the American Army depots and arsenals started packing the material for shipment. By the end of the week more than 600 heav-ily-loaded freight cars were rolling towards the army docks at Raritan, New Jersey, up the river from Gravesend Bay. ’By June 11 a dozen British merchant ships moved into the bay *and anchored, and loading from lighters began. By these extraordinary measures the United States left themselves with the equipment for only 1,800,000 men. the statutory limit prescribed by Congress. AH this reads easily now. but at that time it was a supreme act of faith and leadership for the United States to deprive themselves of this very considerable mass of arms for the sake of a country which - many deemed already beaten. They never had need to repent of it. As will presently be recounted; we ferried these precious weapons safely* across the Atlantic during July, and they formed not only a material gain, but an im; portant factor in all calculations made by friend or foe about invasion. “OUR NAKED CONDITION” The month of June was particularly trying to all of us, because of the dual and opposite stresses to which in our naked condition we were subjected by our duty to France on the one hand and the need to create an effective army at home and to fortify the Island on the other. The double tension of antagonistic but vital needs was most severe. Nevertheless we followed a firm and steady policy without undue excitement. First priority continued te be given to sending whatever trained and equipped troops we had in order to reconstitute the B.E.F. in Frapce. After that our efforts were devoted to the defence of the Island; first by re-forming and reequipping the Regular Army; secondly by fortifying the likely landingplaces: thirdly by arming and organising the population, so far as was possible; and of course by bringing home whatever forces could be gathered from the Empire. At this time the most imminent dangers seemed to be the landing of comparatively small but highly mobile German tank forces which would rip us up and disorgan-

ise our defence, and also parachn* descents. In close contact with S* new Secretary of State for War a ’ thony Eden, I *busied myself on aj Over 80,000 rifles were retrieve from the communications and h a « south of the Seine, and bv the rniddf of June every fighting man in? Regular forces had at least a perwn i weapon in his hand. We had v* a little-field artillery, even for the R»p/ lar Army. Nearly all the new pounders had been lost in Frann There remained about 500 18-poundS and 4.5-inch and 6-inch howitzer There were only 103 cruiser 13? i? - fantry, and 252 light tanks. Fifty Ai the infantry tanks were at home in battalion of the Royal Tank Regimen? and the remainder were in training schools. Never has a great nation been so naked before her foes. n From the beginning I kept in closer contact with my old friends now the head of the Governments of Can ada and South Africa. PRIME MINISTER TO MR McKENZIj •.VI in We must be careful not to let Ameri cans view too complacently prospect m a British collapse, out of which th»v would get the British Fleet and the guard ianship of the British Empire, Great Britain. If United States were in the war and England [were] conouerii locally, it would be natural that event, should follow the above course. But if America continued neutral, and we overpowered, I cannot tell what policy might be adopted by a pro-German id. ministration such as would undoubtedlyt be set up. Although President is our best friend no practical help has [reached us] from the United States as yet. We have not expected them to send military aid, b w they have not even sent (made] anv worthy contribution in destroyers « planes, or by a visit of a squadron of their Fleet to Southern Irish ports. Any pressure which you can apply in ths direction would be invaluable. THE ONE WAY THROUGH Smuts, far off in South Africa and without tbe latest information upon the specialised problems of insular air defence, naturally viewed the tragedy of France according to ortho, dox principles. ‘Concentrate every! thing at the decisive point.” I had thJ advantage of knowing the facts, and of the detailed advice of Air Marshal Dowding, head .of Fighter Command! If Smuts and I had been together for half an hour, and I could have put the data before him. we should have agreed, as we always did, on largo military issues. PRIME minister TO GENVBAL SMUTS i.yi< The classical principles of war which you mention are in thia case modified by the actual quantitative data. I m only one sure way through now, to wit, that Hitler should attack this eounto. and in so doing break his air weam I this happens he will be left to iaw the winter with Europe, writhing under his heel, and probably with the United States against him after the Presidential election is over. Am most grateful to you for cabla. Please always give me your counsel, my old and valiant friend. - Apart from our last 25 Fighter Squadrons, on which we were adamant. we regarded the duty of ending aid to the French Army as paramount. That we st-culd have sent our only two formed divisions, the 52nd Lowland Division and Ist Canadian Division, over to cur failing French ally in this mortal crisis, when the whole fury of Germany must soon fall upon us, must be set to our credit againit the very limited forces we had been able to put in France in the first eight months of war. FRENCH TRAGEDY On June 5 the final phase of the Battle of France began. We have seen how the German armour had been hobbled and held back in the Dunkirk battle, in order to save it for the final phase in France. All this armour now rolled forward upon the weak and improvised or quivering French front between Paris and the sea. About 11 o’clock the next morning there was a message from Reyniud, who had also cabled to the Presldtnt. The French tragedy had moved and slid downward. For several days put I had pressed Jor a- meeting of the Supreme Council. We could no longer meet in Paris. Reynr.ud now told me that he could receive us at Enure, near Orleans. The seat of government was moving from Paris to Tours. Grand Quartier General was nur. Briare. -He specified the airfield to which I should come. Nothing ordered the Flamingo to be ready it Hendon after lujicheon, and having obtained the approval of my colleagues at lhe morning Cabinet, we started about 2 o’clock. Before leaving I cabled the President. FORMER NAVAL PERSON TO PRBWDENT ROOSEVELT 11.V1.40. The French have sent for me again, which means that crisis has arrived. Ara just off. Anything you can say or do w help them now may make the difference. We are also worried about Ireland- Ad American Squadron at Btrehaven do no end of good, I am sure. (To be continued.) . Copyright 1949 in U.S.A, by ThtNew York Times Company and Tima, Inc. (publisher of Time and Life): in tlj British Empire fey the Daily Telegraph Ltd.; elsewhere by International Cooperation Press Service, Inc. World rights reserved. Reproduction in I’d or in part in any language strictly pro* hibited.