WHEN MASS RAIDS COME

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 102, 24 January 1940, Page 10

WHEN MASS RAIDS COME

Defences In Britain

NEWS OF AIR WARFARE NOT WITHHELD By Telegraph.- Press Assn.--Copyrlght. LONDON, January 22. A highly-placed authority pointed out, in reply to a Sydney newspaper’s statement that young men should not be criticized for not enlisting while official sources in London do not appear to be frank about the war news, and especially air activity, that the public is being informed as fully as possible. Details have been published of every Air Force operation since the outbreak of the war, and losses are not being withheld.

It is still impossible to clear up the “mystery” of the “raids on Sylt.” Despite renewed assertions by correspondents that attacks were carried out it is stated to be indisputable that British planes did not attack the base except on the occasions announced. The fact that Australians have beeu in the thick of every air operation since the outbreak of the war is fully appreciated in Britain.

According to high-placed opinion, it can be said that there is no ground at present for optimism by the British public regarding the future of the war in the air over the United Kingdom. There is no illusion in the R.A.F. about what is to be expected. The attitude of the Air Force is that it is not a question of “if raids come, but when.”

So far lone enemy reconnaisseursi have penetrated the defences. This is regarded as inevitable sometimes, but the public is well advised not to ignore the prospects when 300 or 400 bombers at a time seriously attack , Britain. There is no ground for excessive concern in view of the strength of the defences.