RAID ON ICELAND

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 13

RAID ON ICELAND

The claim made in a German communique that Iceland has been bombed by the Luftwaffe is a very significant pointer to Germany’s wider intentions. It also indicates the development of Goering's long-range bombers

| the military correspondent of the SydI ney ‘Morning Herald’). ! fceland is about 1,000 miles from the nearest aerodromes in Norway, and the | island itself is about 300 miles across; so that, if the German target was near the capital of Reykjavik, the total distance flown would he almost 2,000 miles. This is equivalent to a flight from Lon- , don to tlie heart of Hungary, and the news of the raid may thus he taken as evidence that Germany’s new long- , range bombers arc in service. These

are probably the reconstructed Heinkels and the new Focke-Wulfs of which German propaganda has made so much. Since there are rejjorts of sinkings 300 miles west of Portugal, or 1,100 miles from the nearest bases in France, it might reasonably be supposed that the general offensive against British shipping has begun. German bombers operating from Brittany would similarly be aide to harry British shipping where tlie routes meet some 300 or 400 miles west of 'Eire. In that case* Germany

appears at last to be in a position to attempt the enforcement of an outer aerial blockade.

The northernmost sector of this longrange bombing may, however, have an even more immediate objective. As soon as Denmark fell to the Nazis, Brition occupied the Faroes, halfway between the Shetlands and Iceland, and a month later, on May 10 of last year, Iceland itself. The Foreign Office officially stated that the occupation was designed to forestall a German invasion.

Iceland woud clearly have been of enormous strategical advantage to Germany. It would have provided her with a valuable base on Britain’s northern flank, suitable both for naval and aerial action. The Icelandic harbours would have made admirable bases for raids by surface craft on Britain’s Atlantic lifeline, and would have directly menaced the vital route north of the Hebrides. In the encirclement of Britain and the cutting of the sea routes, Iceland would have been most useful to Hitler.

The latest raid of the Luftwaffe on an Icelandic aerodrome may well be a test of strength of the British occupation. Germany is probably trying to ascertain if a small but efficient force of parachutists would be able to defeat. the troops in occupation and thus wrest Iceland from British hands. Iceland was always important hi so far as theattacks on shipping were concerned, but it is far more so to-day, now that Hitler’s task is to close in upon England from all sides.