FIRTH OF FORTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1939, Page 10

FIRTH OF FORTH

REASON FOR AIR ATTACKS The visits by German planes to the Firth of Forth are to be explained in terms of declared strategy. They were directed against the British Fleet, a main base of which (outside of the tactical position of Scapa Flow) is at Rosyth, which is on the north bank of the Firth, about 12 miles westward of Edinburgh and three miles above the famous Forth Bridge, The establishment of Rosyth was directly due to the German menace, and it is 36 years since the British Government determined to create a first-class naval base there. The intention behind this move was to create a base suitable for a fleet concentrated in the North Sea. Rosyth has already been altered once, for the growing possibilities of torpedo attack forced a change in the plans as early as 1908, and even then naval opinion was dubious as to whether the place would meet the needs it was designed to fill. Up to 1914 Rosyth was nevertheless regarded as the principal base and headquarters o'; the Grand Fleet, though it was decided to establish other stations at Cromarty (north of Moray Firth) and Scapa Flow in the Orkneys. When the World War began Admiral Jellicoe preferred to establish his headquarters at Scapa, but Rosyth remained a secondary base, especially for the battle cruisers.

I Tho recent German attacks, which | have resulted in a known loss of thirteen planes, have proved expensive to the Nazis, and probably have run into as much money as the cost of a good-sized warship. Modern, warplanes are not cheap, and probably other mudlines have been forced down and lost on the outward or return flights. The recent raid in which Mr. HoreFielisha had just stated were countered by mon of Iho Auxiliary Air Force, apparently resulted in the loss of a third of the raiding force, which is about the proportion, expected by strategists. Also if is becoming apparent that, as wm* expected, the interference with attacking squadrons is great and is having its effect on the accuracy of bombing against military objectives. In the World War, it is calcmited, it cost the Germans about XT to Cl ' for every' £1 worth of damage iheyi inflicted on Britain by air raids. It would appear that, recently the same proportion must, have been maintain-