BRITAIN TAKES THE LEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 7, 8 July 1940, Page 6

BRITAIN TAKES THE LEAD

The initiative in war, other things being equal, gives the belligerent that takes it deliberately and resolutely an advantage never better illustrated than by the German successes of the past three months. In Scandinavia, the Low Countries, and France the Nazis followed an unscrupulous plan of attack, which first baffled and then overwhelmed the defenders, because they did not know where and when and how the attack was to be delivered. It is stated, for instance, that the French dispositions before the German May offensive in the West contemplated an attack through Switzerland, and not through Holland and Belgium, where the frontier was so weakly held that the Germans had little difficulty in breaking through at Sedan and bringing about the downfall of France, incidentally exposing the British Expeditionary Force in Flanders to imminent danger of destruction. The entry of Italy into the war on the side of the enemy and the Petain Government's surrender of France greatly increased Britain's liabilities I in some respects, but, on a sober survey, these liabilities have probably J been more than counterbalanced by j resultant advantages. Britain has no longer to maintain a large and costly army in France, with the risk of being involved in the failure of French! military plans, as exemplified in the late campaign ending in the evacuation from Dunkirk. The growing British land forces, with substantial accessions from the Dominions, can now be kept in Britain for the defence of that country against invasion, or —what is equally important—for use overseas wherever a blow can be struck against the enemy with prospecL of success. Further, the withdrawal of France from the alliance against aggression gives Britain free and undivided access to the industrial and material resources of the outside world, particularly America, for the supply of all munitions that may be needed to supplement her own resources. Free to follow her own plans, Britain has seized the opportunity of

the pause in enemy operations after the capitulation of the Petain Gov-J ernment and the occupation of France to wrest the initiative from the Nazis and pursue the war on her own behalf with the utmost vigour. The signs are unmistakable. One sign is the resolute action to ensure that the French fleet should not fall into the hands of the enemy. Another is the determined and successful offensive by the British Air Arm against military objectives of all kinds in enemy territory, including occupied countries, from Norway, through Germany, the Low Countries and France, Italy and Sicily, Libya, Eritrea, and Ethiopia to the borders of Kenya. If this were not enough, our airmen have covered the seas as well, striking at enemy craft on the surface and under, and in port and at sea. Finally, there is the most remarkable feat, recorded in the day's news, of laying minefields- from the air over the whole German and Norwegian coastlines in the North j Sea and Baltic. These have already: taken heavy toll of enemy shipping and are likely to hamper all enemy movement in these waters for some time to come. This is only a part of the story of an initiative in the air and at sea which goes far to explain the insignificant enemy reaction. Nothing is more calculated to hearten the friends of freedom all over the world than these telling blows delivered at the common enemy by a nation fighting now alone against the forces of aggression.