INVASION FROM THE AIR

Evening Star, Issue 23352, 23 August 1939, Page 12

INVASION FROM THE AIR

TACTICAL USE OF PARACHUTE Reports continue to come in from Germany of the intensive development there of the tactical use of the parachute for dropping infantry and ma-chine-gun detachments at focal points, writes the air correspondent of the London ‘ Observer.’ A battalion of parachute troops took part in Herr Hitler’s birthday parade. Experts are sharply divided as to the value of parachute battalions;- but Great Britain is now the only important European Power which has not formed any. The limitations on the use of such troops are considerable, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that, when working with naval forces, for example, at a lauding, they might bo of value. “ Invasion ” in the full sense may he looked upon ns impossible, but the possibility of a small diversion created by a landing backed up by a few battalions of parachute troops can no longer be overlooked. It will be recalled that the German staff during the war of 1914 decided that it was worth sending aeroplanes to bomb London os a diversion, for they knew the total material damage could not be very groat. And those raids succeeded as a diversion, for they caused large numbers of aeroplanes, sorely needed on the western front, to be brought home for defence purposes. It is generally thought that Russia first developed the parachute as a tactical instrument. Italy took it up energetically, and a year ago, during the manonivrcs in Libya 1 under Marshal Balbo. two battalions of parachute infantry were dropped behind the lines of an imaginary enemy. At Brunswick in November a test was made with a German infantry coincompany, which was taken to its barracks by air and 1 dropped close to the barrack doors. No units of parachute infantry have been formed in England, but Mr HorcBelisba has stated that the “ technical aspects ” of their formation are “ alwavs before the General Stall'.” France has done some useful work in developing parachute infantry, and in Franco there have been public demonstrations wherein detachments have been dropped with their machineguns in parts, and have then rapidly formed up and assembled the guns.