GERMAN TACTICS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20257, 27 May 1940, Page 9

GERMAN TACTICS

PLANES AND TANKS TREMENDOUS PRESSURE VULNERABLE POINTS WEAKNESSES APPARENT (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, May 25. According to reliable authorities on the tactics employed by the Germans in the present campaign, bombing aircraft take the place of an artillery barrage with which an attack on the enemy position in the last war was generally opened. The assault is delivered by dive and light bombers flying low dropping bombs and using machine-guns against troops on the roads. Immediately after them comes an advance of a terrific concentration on a narrow front of heavy and light tanks, the former leading in a solid phalanx. In some cases parachutists have been dropped simultaneously with the tank attack close behind the defending lines to machine-gun defenders from the rear. After the first advance the heavy tanks, because of their slower speed and greater petrol consumption, tend to drop behind and the light tanks are pushed out as screens or for reconnaissance work, advancing sometimes as fast and far as possible but waiting for the support of heavy tanks where much opposition is encountered. The light tanks are followed by motorised forces intended to hold the positions secured by the tanks. They again arc followed by infantry divisions. Plane and Tank Contact In the first attack very close contact is maintained between the tank forces and the aircraft. In the subsequent advance the contact is less immediate, but the tanks when held up by anti-tank defences do not attempt to push the attack but signal by wireless for dive bombers again to clear the way for them. As far as the theory of this mode of attack is concerned, military commentators point out that owing to the character of the advance islands of unbroken troops are likely to be left in the rear of the tank forces and may be able to hold up motorised infantry or infantry divisions. The further the tank advance is pushed, involving greater petrol difficulties and exhaustion of personnel, the more hazardous does it become.

It is indeed very clear that this form of warfare has its weaknesses as well as its strength. For example, there are bound to be spaces and intervals between the tanks and the motorised divisions and between the latter and infantry which intervals give opportunity for counter-attack. Another point is that the class of aeroplanes used in these tactics would appear to be peculiarly vulnerable to attack by fighters. It will' be necessary to have a great deal more experience of these methods than is provided by the first surprise success secured by the Germans against the Allies before judging how far they contribute to ultimate victory, or how far they exhaust the staying power of the forces using them in securing gains which may be less than decisive.