HEAVIER BLOW YET TO BE STRUCK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 211, 5 August 1940, Page 7

HEAVIER BLOW YET TO BE STRUCK

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—* . Copyright.) Received August 5, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, Aug. .4. • The News of the World reports that the R.A.F. has thus far bombed over a hundred towns in Eastern Germany and has carried out over a thousand raids. Nearly 400 bombs have, been dropped on Germany and German-occupied territory for every bomb dropped in Britain. A correspondent who was permitted to visit tlie headquarters of the Northern Command writes: “Here the Army and Home Guard stand ready for-the invader. They recognise that his plan may be to cut England in half at the narrowest part, as it was Russia’s idea in Finland. Both the Army and the Navy know that if Hitler delays his invasion until the springtime he may not have a chance to attempt it. “But the R.A.F. is not even waiting for the invader to stake all on a blow by sea and air. While the summer lasts and the high tides of early August and again in September are in his favour, the R.A.F. not only intends sweeping the skies of Britain clear of the enemy —It is planning even heavier loads of bombs on enemy territory than at present. “The longer nights ahead will permit of raids deeper and more widespread than those carried out hitherto. “The night bomber station I visited intends, like the others, to make the fullest use of the opportunities and military objectives well beyond the. Ruhr will be within the range of the Whitley planes during the longer hours of darkness. DEFENCES DISPERSED. “The widespread R.A.F. bombing has already had the effect of dispersing • Germany’s anti-aircraft defences, which were formerly concentrated around important areas like the Ruhr. German fighters, once never seen at night time, are . now encountered frequently. “It is clear from reports of observers that Germany’s war machine has already suffered a tremendous hammering by the British. The R.A.F. pilots who have been operating since the outbreak of the war are being gradually replaced by fresh personnel, the veterans being sent back as instructors.”