The Times MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1939. Hitler's Secret Weapon

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 280, 27 November 1939, Page 6

The Times MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1939. Hitler's Secret Weapon

Following a rather theatrical rattling of the scabbard, Hitler has now unsheathed what is believed to be his muchvaunted secret weapon—magnetic mines dropped by parachute. According to the Nazi press, these drifting mines are to be laid along all the principal sea routes to England in an endeavour to render sailing to Britain the equivalent of sailing to death. If the Fulirer hopes that this announcement will arouse consternation among his adversaries, he is doomed to yet another disappointment. Such a gross violation of the rules of warfare, following upon other breaches just as unjustifiable, afford further proof—if proof were needed—of the inhuman characteristics of the enemy. It will but serve to strengthen Britain’s determination to eradicate the forces capable of such barbarities, and cannot do other than arouse neutral feeling against the Nazis. Indeed, it seems that the intensification of the German blockade is in part directed against neutrals, who are displaying a natural reluctance towards trading with the bankrupt Reich. They are now to be faced with the alternative of trading with Germany or putting up the shutters altogether.

While we cannot but condemn the illegality of the Nazi methods of warfare, there is considerable comfort to be derived from the fact that Hitler has found it necessary to resort to such desperate measures. Firstly, it affords striking evidence of the success of the Allied anti-submarine campaign. Though the Admiralty has wisely refrained from publishing details of successes, there is every reason 1o believe that a large proportion of Hitler’s U-boat fleet lia* been destroyed. It can be expected, too, that the morale of the remaining crews has been greatly undermined by the failure of so many raiders to return to their bases. At the present rate of destruction Germany could not maintain replacements, for a submarine, particularly of the ocean-going type, cannot be built overnight and the specialist crews require extensive training. Thus one of the main weapons of the enemy litys been largely nullified inside of three months, as against three years during the Great War. In the second place, there is much enheartening significance in the introduction of “frightfulness” at this early stage of the struggle. Jn the previous conflict it was not until February, 1917, that the Germans found themselves in such desperate straits that they were forced to declare unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain into submisssion. That they have, in the present struggle, so soon resorted to methods of winning at any price regardless of humanity and neutral rights, suggests that they may already feel hard-pressed. Prior to the outbreak of war, responsible observers emphasised that the economic and psychological situation in Germany was more like 1917 than 1914. They drew attention to the unremitting strain that had been imposed upon both men and machines since the Nazis seized power, to the falling-off of man-power production, the imperative need for machine re-plaee-ment, and the dangerous exhaustion of materials. While it is too much to expect that an early collapse is imminent, yet it is not to be supposed that Germany would run the risk of turning the whole world against her did she feel herself to be in a sound position. The inauguration of indiscriminate warfare upon the high seas suggests a people with their backs to the wall rather than an adversary confident of victory. Apart from these considerations, the effectiveness of the latest Nazi menace lias yet to be demonstrated. Military history reveals that every new weapon devised by human ingenuity is sooner or later countered by the same ingenuity. There is no reason to fear that drifting magnetic mines will prove an exception to the rule, any more than submarines did, and a great team of scientists is already seeking countermeasures. Furthermore, such mines are inanimate destroyers driven blindly by wind and wave, making no discrimination between friend and foe. They do not, before striking, pause to inquire whether the merchant vessel is bearing much-needed raw materials to Germany or not, nor is it of any concern to them whether the warship they strike flics the Union Jack or Hie Swastika. Thus Hitler may yet find his new-forged weapon turning its double edge against him.