Heavier Air Raids Than Before

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 188, 9 August 1941, Page 7

Heavier Air Raids Than Before

Germans Will Hit Back if They Can WARNING AGAINST COMPLACENCY (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 7. In a broadcast on possible German air attacks on Britain next winter, General Sir William Bartholomew, Regional Commissioner of the Northeastern Civil Defence Region, said: “I have heard people in some places which have not experienced the full hoat of battle ask the question: Have we done with heavy bombing attacks at nightt, It is a foolish question. I say go to London, go to Plymouth, go to Hull and [ a few other places and see what answer; you will get. ‘ ‘ The Prime Minister told Hitler: that we are going to intensify our attack. Does anyone suppose the Germans are not going to try to hit back when they can and as hard as they cant Do not let us deceive ourselves. So long as Germany has an efficient heavy bombing force we must expect attacks on our cities. ‘ 1 The methods of our active defence in finding the enemy at night and destroying him are improving and he will find, if I am not mistaken, that night raids this winter will be a costly business. But we have not yet reached the stage where we can stop them and we must prepare to meet the most determined attacks. This is an unpleas * t thought, but if any false sense uf security has lulled us and we become slack the awakening would be grim indeed. “We are not going to be caught off guard. We have learned a good many hard lessons and the civil defence machine has profited by them, lt has been constantly tuned up as the Germans have increased the weight of their attack and as we have found our defences needed strengthening. The Government, the regional commissioners and local authorities are working hard. When the raids come we shall be in a far better position to meet them even if they are heavier still than before.”