A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 85, 4 January 1940, Page 6

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Aerial “Dover Patrol” FAMOUS GREAT WAR SERVICE In describing the R.A.F. flights over the North Sea coast of Germany, which have been carried out daily and nightly since December 14, an official dispatch states that the operations are the logical extension of the Dover Patrol. They guard the same area, but do so from the air instead of the sea. The Dover Patrol was established in the Great War. Its purpose was twofold: to keep the narrows of the Channel open to traffic, principally that of the Port of London, and to hunt submarines. It was based at Dover and the patrol area extended roughly from North Foreland to Beachy Head, including both sides of the Channel.

It was necessary to protect the Channel traffic from mines, submarine attack and destroyer attack. An average of 66 trawlers wore used for mine-sweeping and general traffic duty. The Patrol had an amazingly successful record, for nearly 100,000 merchant ships passed through its area in three years, and of these only 48 were mined and seven torpedoed. A “Barrage” Of Mines

When the submarine menace became serious in 1917, one of the schemes put in hand by the Dover Patrol to defeat them was a “barrage,” or lines of mines, anchored at various depths between Folkestone and Grisnez. The first submarine thus destroyed met its end In December, 1917, after which a number were sunk, and the spot became so notoriously unhealthy foi U-boats that it was avoided. The Dover Patrol in the early part of the Great War also co-operated with the army in land operations. Ships’ gunfire helped to retard the German advance through Belgium and made the coastal road difficult for the Germans to use.

In 1917 a number of guns were landed to assist in the advance which was then contemplated, and arrangements were made for the landing of 20,009 men between Ostend and Westend. The landing, however, was never carried out.

The most famous exploit of the Dover Patrol was the attack on Zeebrugge—a gallant and extremely daring foray into the very jaws 01 the enemy. A similar attempt on Ostend failed, though it was made with equal gallantry.

Bet\veen 1915 and 1918 the Dover Patrol had its air arm, based at Dunkirk The busiest arm, however, was that’ consisting of destroyers, which were constantly at sea and carried out their operations regardless ot weather conditions and the danger of enemy attack. Tiie new “Dover Patrol” ot the air is different from its namesake inasmuch as it carries out its duties actually over enemy territory. What is more, it provided itself in advance with a Zeebrugge tradition by the daring Kiel raid at the opening of hostilities. Blow At Social Barriers Much favourable comment is being published in Englan’d as a result of a recent Army Order, which strikes an unprecedented blow at the.barriers of social “class.” Commanding officers of regiments sent to quarters or for training in new districts have been instructed that officers may not accept invitations to join local social or sports clubs unless similar invitations are extended to their men. "This is a command, not a polite suggestion,” one district commander informed a London newspaper recently. “If invitations to join golf clubs and the like do not embrace all ranks, the officers are not allowed to accept them.” The move is being hailed as an important and far-reaching part of the social revolution which is taking place in England in wartime. If carried into effect fully it will mean vast changes an’d a new intermingling in civilian as well as in army life. Miss Mitford Returns The cabled news that an ambulance is waiting at Folkestone to receive Miss Unity Mitford, who left Germany via Switzerland a day or two ago in “a specially chartered ambulance train,” brings to an end a somewhat tawdry piece of wartime gossip on which some of the London penny papers have been feasting (heir readers. The lion. Unity Valkyrie FreemanMilford is one of the six beautiful daughters of Lord Redesdale. During the past two or three years she lias been much publicized as an ardent admirer of Hitler and Nazism.

Miss Mitford lins been a prominent member of a number of the AngloGerman “friendship” clubs which .sprang up hi London before the war. For example, she was a foundation member of “The Link,” a distinctly pro-Nazi organization which closed down hurriedly on the eve of the war. Her social prominence encouraged the Nazis to make use of her for propaganda purposes, aud high Nazi officials became her friends. Hitler himself went out of his way to take notice of her frequent anti much-advertised visits to Germany, and she claimed tiie Fuehrer as a great personal friend. Endless Speculation

Last, year Miss Mitford spent more time in Germany than in England. She was visiting Berlin when war broke out, and in the last three mouths tiie gossip writers of both England and the United States have speculated endlessly as to her subsequent movements. Some said she had renounced her country and had become a mituralized German; others that .she had suffered a nervous breakdown and was seriously ill: others again that she had committed suicide in a hotel after fleeing to Vienna. “Miss Mitford.'' wrote Beverley Nichols recently, "is one of Dr. Goebbels’s few lasting triumphs. She has always seen Hitler through a haze of limelight manipulated by Dr. Goeb.bels. To call her an enemy of her country is ridiculous. She is just in

i a daze. i “The last, time 1 saw her before the | war she was deep in this daze. It was I at a reception at the German Embassy, i She stood out from the rest of the 1 women, partly because she wore no hat. and partly because she spent ; most of her lime in front of a picture i of lhe Fuehrer, gazing at it with a look of adoration. I “Needless to say, people said ttn- : kind things. But Miss Mitford has never spent five seconds alone with the Fuehrer in her life." Miss Milford is 26 years old. Hue i of her sisters is Lady wife ot Sir Oswald, the British Fascist Party | leader.