A PREDICTION

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1940, Page 6

A PREDICTION

A LONG BATTLE.

Maor Alexander Seversky' famous aeroplane designer and manufacturer in America, predicts that the aerial -battle for -Britain will be a drawn-out affair. ..

“It is apparent,” he says, “that the Gormans, their earlier hope of a "-knockout having faded have resigned themselves to a protracted, tedious, and stubborn air struggle. “We are now justified in assuming that theR.AE. can hold out until it is saved by the bell —by sleety, foggy autumn weather.” Major ‘Sovetsky said he’ did not believe that Germany was anxious foi actual occupation of the British Isles, “Hitler’s purpose will be to put British industry out of commission,” lit continued, “rather than ■ take it over, making the islands dependent on Germany for economic rehabilitation. . .In fact, were, the Nazis to occupy England-, qgid then systematically destroy its industrial wealth, they would be accused of vandalism. “Doing it by an- bombardment under the pretext of protracted preparation for they have tactical justification. “Neither army nor navy can prevent such a calamity. . “Only. ‘British air power can head it off. It is now engaged in doing just that.” The air correspondent of the Daily Herald says that the -current strategy of German night-bombing is to launch the -main attack at objectives of military importance, but, parallel with this ■to launch secondary attacks over a most widespread area. The object of this is to spread airraid warnings as widely <ps possible, dropping occasional bombs as a "sideshow.

“The -population is thus continually kept on the qui vive sleep is lost, nerves are frayed, and tempers tried,” the correspondent says. A popular demand is growing in London for a warning system which will allow: (1) a full-scale alarm if raiders are approaching in (strength; (2) an intermediate warning vto put the population .in a state ofmlert if only isolated planes are approaching . The intermediate alarm would leave it to the people themselves whether they take cover in shelters or remain in bed. ;

Ail inspector of special police in a Welsh -toivn, which has had more attention from the Germans than Lonidon, writes to the Daily Express:— “Can air-raids be amusing? can’t

tllGy just Stop? “The other night the following members of the band were all playing simultaneously :—-

“Firstly, heavy gunfire; secondly, several bombs exploding; thirdly, lowflying enemy filled the heavens (mensacing music) ;■ fourthly, all-clear sirens; -ffftly. air-raid warning sirens. - “Terror was submerged in roars of rribald delight.” Tlie Daily -Express says that bombs dropped in recent raids on England are .intended to injure people rather than property. “An expert says that tlie fuse is so shortened that tlie bomb quickly on impact.” the newspaper states.

“Another-type of bomb the Germans are using has a much greater delayed action -than experts have ever known.” The London correspondent of the Swiss ,newspaper Bowler Nachriehton. commenting on London air-raids writes:—

“The increasing air attacks on London are having a strange effect on the ..population.' The greater the number j of raids, the calmer is their demeanor.” H e adds that all bombs have fallen far from military objectives!”