BATTLE FOR BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 12

BATTLE FOR BRITAIN

AIR BLITZKRIEG SLACKENS LOSS OF PRESTIGE FOR NAZIS Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, October 31. ‘The Times,’ in a leader, says; “Germany lost about 250 planes over Britain in October, compared with the usual monthly total of over 1,000; blit if the material casualties were fewer the loss of prestige was far greater. The figures confirm that the attempt to blast a way for an invasion has definitely failed. The reported use of Italian planes must be an effort to mask the repulse of purely German forces by a demonstration of Axis solidarity, but it cannot conceal the fact that smaller numbers are delivering the attacks, also that fighters and fighter bombers capable of carrying smaller loads have been employed and the tactics revised to avoid combat. Moreover, the attacks generally have been less intense, even at night time. The enemy losses at night time have been heavier, despite the use of fewer planes, which may be an additional sign that Germany cannot hope to do at night what it has failed to do in the day. “ Defeat of the air attack as an instrument of invasion does not mean that the threat of invasion has passed. We must recognise that mastery of the air must still be won everywhere, and the possibility of a renewed assault against Britain is not. merely something the enemy wants us to believe.” SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES SOUTH AFRICAN ORGANISATION CAPE TOWN, October 31. . Despite the fact that the affairs of the so-called cultural organisation Ossewabrandwag (meaning “ the way of the ox ”) have been the subject of court cases when men have been charged with subversive activities, Mr Maaean, addressing the Cape Nationalist Congress, declared it deserved support. It had concluded an agreement stipulating co-operation affecting the supreme interests of Afrikanders. Referring to the prosecutions, he said that members were the victims of a base espionage campaign. Congress cheered when he announced that if the organisation were suppressed it would resort to a campaign of passive disobedience, to which he promised full support. It was disclosed in court that the organisation numbers 160,000. General Hertzog’s programme of principles for a free State outlines a republic achieved on constitutional lines and based on national unity. GERMAN PRIESTS RELEASED ON PAROLE MELBOUIIN.fi, November 1. (Received November 2, at 8 a.m.) The Minister for the Army (Mr Spender) announced that the German priests and missionaries arrested in West Australia had been released on parole pending a thorough scrutiny of the papers relating to their arrest. [The Prime Minister (Mr R. G. Menzies) announced on October 28 that he had received a bitter protest from Archbishop'Mannix (Roman Catholic), of Melbourne, against the arrest by the military authorities of 13 German mission priests and brothers at Kimberley, North-west Australia;] TRANSPORT PROBLEMS REORGANISATION OF TRAFFIC SERVICES ' (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 31. Winter plans to beat the disorganisation caused by air raids on London include an appeal for 1,000 bus conducted*, male or female, putting in service 900 buses taken off the roads when petrol rationing was introduced; the introduction of express buses on 20 routes and of 400 buses from provinces supplied by between 40 and 50 undertakings. The general manager of operations of the London Passenger Transport Board (Mr Thomas), outlining the plans, pointed out the vast nature of the task of taking 7,500,000 workers to and from their homes, supplementing the main line rail services, evacuating women and children, working express and emergency schedules, planning route diversions, and repairing damage. With regard to the last-named task,

Mr Thomas gave two instances recently of the rapid repair of serious damage. A high-explosive bomb struck a station platform in the open, derailed a train, made the station roof dangerous, wrecked a signal gantry, and made the railway unsafe. Restricted services were running next day. In the second case a bomb fell behind a signal cabin, damaging it severely, making it unsafe, and throwing one truck bodily on another. The services were restored two days and a-half later. Other improvements include the opening, in conjunction w r ith the mainline railways, of information bureaux in the city. SECRET BOMBSI6HT MADE AVAILABLE TO BRITAIN WASHINGTON. November 1. According to responsible officials, the army released the secret Sperry bombsight to Britain.