STILL SUPREME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 8

STILL SUPREME

BRITISH SEA POWER. CHALLENGE FROM AIR. (United Pres* Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 13. The experience of the war so far has demonstrated that except in confined waters air power does not appear to offer a serious challenge to sea power and even in confined waters the results have not been spectacular. So far only two war vessels larger and better protected than destroyers have been sunk in an air attack—the British light cruiser Curlew and the German cruiser which was sunk in Bergen Harbour. The opinion expressed in informed circles is-that the actual destruction of ships by air attack has so far not proved very successful. Tlie other aspect of the question is whether air power can prevent naval forces from operating. If this were true then air power would defeat sea power just as surely as if it were able to send all warships to the sea bottom. In this respect consideration of the reembarkment of the B.E.F. at Dunkirk is of value. In this operation large numbers of destroyers and small craft were engaged. The operation lasted several days and nights and the ships were often at anchor for long periods. Although sea power in this ease had the devoted cooperation of air power it was true that British air power was inferior in numbers to the Nazis. Further, the Nazi air force was closely based and able to deliver continuous attacks. In spite of this the evacuation operation was a brilliant success and although losses occurred these were surprisingly small. It appears that air power alone can neither destroy battle fleets nor materially hinder naval operations.