The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, SATURDAY, .MARCH 2, 1940. SIX MONTHS AT WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20186, 2 March 1940, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, SATURDAY, .MARCH 2, 1940. SIX MONTHS AT WAR

Although the Empire has now been at war with Germany for six months there have not yet been any really decisive engagements and, in the main, the conflict has pursued its unrealistic trend. At this distance, where life goes on more or less normally, it is not always easy to realise that Europe is engaged in a life and death struggle and at times, perhaps, the public is apt to be impatient for results. It is well to remember, however, and to emphasise, that time is on the side of the Allies and that, so far, the war has proceeded according to the Allied plans rather than those of the enemy. Even before war was declared, Britain and France had issued a warning that hostilities, once started, would be protracted, but Germany, having first been misled into believing that Britain and France would not fight, then calculated on a lightning war such as proved successful in the campaign against Poland. This expectation has not been realised, but, instead, the Allies have settled down to what amounts to a siege of the enemy. For this war of attrition Germany is signally ill-equipped, militarily, economl- - cally, or temperamentally, and because of this there is every reason to expect that with the passing of the winter the war will enter a new phase and that the Nazis will make a bold bid to produce results which will at once justify the claims of their leaders and hearten the people. The first half-year of warfare Is of value largely because it provides an opportunity of measuring the strength of the opposing forces. Ori land there has been no engagement of any consequence but experience suggests that neither side will attempt an assault on the strongly fortified lines of the enemy; that it is more likely that surprise attacks will be made elsewhere than on the recognised fronts and most probably through neutral territory. ' Such a development will be a further handicap to the enemy if for no other reason than that it will inevitably increase the number of Powers which will be aligned against her, and each of these Powers, it is well to remember, is now fully prepared for war. The war at sea has been one-sided from the outset because Germany was never capable of competing with the Allied fleets. As an alternative to naval battle, the Nazis have been compelled to wage war on defenceless neutral shipping, and they have admittedly taken heavy toll, but they have covered themselves with ignominy and disrepute rather than the renown and glory. In the one real naval engagement of the war, the battle of the River Plate, the pride of the German navy was ingloriously defeated by relatively small British ships and British naval superiority was proved more decisively than on any other occasion in history. Any possible future naval activity can be anticipated with

equanimity. The war in the air remains a more uncertain factor, but nothing that has yet occurred has given occasion for anything but confidence on the part of the Allic.u. It seems likely that the Allies entered the war with an inferiority complex . insofar as aerial armaments are concerned, for so much had been heard of the German air force that it was expected to be a real menace. Instead, however, it has proved almost impotent.# There is still a feeling, perhaps, that Germany has a surprise in store in this respect, but there is nothing in experience to justify such’an outlook. Indeed, the contrary is the case. The Nazi air force has completely failed to penetrate the British defences and attempts to do so have resulted in heavy losses. On the other hand, British machines appear to fly wherever they will over German territory almost without let or hindrance. At every test British

superiority has been demonstrated, the heavy bombers, somewhat unexpectedly, being able to more than hold their own with German fighters while German bombers, have proved no match for the small defensive machines of the Royal Air Force. In the meantime, thanks to the remarkable Empire air scheme and the unlimited resources at its disposal, the Allied air strength and margin of superiority is being steadily increased and it would require some unimaginable development by the enemy to cause concern for the future results of the war in the air.

More important than the actual hostilities, however, sire the activities on the economic front and it is here that the Allied superiority is most marked. Britain and France have been able to call on the whole world for supplies of munitions, foodstuffs, and materials and nothing that Germany can devise is likely materially to alter the situation. On the other hand, Germany’s sources of supply have been more and more restricted, not only by the Allied blockade but also by various developments on the part of the neutral neighbours upon whom she is forced to rely. Every day in every way the strength of the Allies is increasing while that of Germany is being steadily undermined. It would be a mistake to assume that Germany is yet anything like desperate, but -the position and the prospects must inevitably cause her a great deal of anxiety. Such a situation is calculated to provoke her to action, but in whatever direction it might be taken the Allies are more than ready for it. The indications are that the second six months will see the war spread to several fronts and probably to a number of other countries but any such development will make the situation ever more ominous for Germany. It is clear that she and her ally are slowly but surely antagonising the rest of the world and it seems certain that nothing but the early collapse of the Nazis, which there is no reason to expect, can prevent the greater part of the world becoming embroiled in the conflict.