BRITAIN PREPARED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 78, 2 April 1941, Page 8

BRITAIN PREPARED

COMING AIR ATTACKS

R.A.F.'S GROWING STRENGTH

READY FOR BLITZ

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON. March 10;

A renewal of the aerial blitz on Britain by the Nazis is anticipated as soon as there is a permanent improvement in the weather. Preparations are being made to meet an offensive equalling in intensity the heavy aerial bombardment that began in September, and it is expected that the Germans will use anything up to 500 planes in each raid on fine nights. Since the beginning of the year there has been a slackening in the intensity of the German raids, part of which has been, accounted for by the bad weather. Fogs, mists, and soggy landing grounds in France have all had a share in checking Nazi excursions. There has also been a change in policy, and from indiscriminate bombing of cities, the Nazis are now paying more | attention to wrecking port facilities. Althqugh Hitler has diverted a part of his air force to the Balkans, there is still every reason to believe that by far the larger proportion of it still faces Britain in the north-west of Europe. This, it is thought, will be used both for a renewed bombing offensive on land, and also at sea, in conjunction with intensified- U-boat warfare. IMMEASURABLY STRONGER. But the Luftwaffe will not have everything all their own way. As it has been stated by Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Air Minister, the R.A.F. is immeasurably stronger and the full power of its ability to strike has no* yet been reached. There is no reason to doubt that the battle for air supremacy will take place during this year. The R.A.F. faces it with the greatest confidence. It has the memory of winning the first round against the Luftwaffe last August and September, and today it is | a much stronger fighting force. It has many new types, including the Short Stirling and Avro-Manchester bombers, and the Whirlwind fighter, in addition to several American types. The Empire Air Training Scheme is producing the pilots. It is expected that the biggest and the heaviest bombing raids will continue to be carried out by both sides at night. In this respect the Germans will have an advantage since, in midsummer with only some six hours of darkness, they will have shorter distances to fly to their targets than will the R.A.F., which has to strike deep | into German territories on flights last- : ing many hours. ! A "NO MAN'S LAND." It is likely that a "No Man's Land" of the air may be established over the Channel and the neighbouring English i and Continental coastlines. The R.A.F. i has given proof of its increased I strength by the daylight sweeps over ! France. The Luftwaffe has also been out on patrol, but so far no big aerial | battles have developed. ' It is possible that British bombers : may be escorted by fighters as they set out in the long midsummer evenings for their targets in Germany. The lighters will accompany them until they are engulfed by the night, and will then return to meet the bombers when they fly back as dawn is breaking. By whatever method it may be done, it is certain that the R.A.F. bombers will strike at Germany with more punishing blows as the year proceeds. If the Luftwaffe bombs Britain, the R.A.F. can strike back as hard, or harder. If the submarines harry the merchant shipping, it is certain that the Royal Navy and the Coastal Bomber Command will have an answer. It is an encouraging fact that none of the Services looks ahead to the coming offensive with greater confidence than the Royal Air Force.