Germans’ New Plane, Tank, Troop Tactics

Northern Advocate, 27 May 1940, Page 6

Germans’ New Plane, Tank, Troop Tactics

LONDON. May 25. According to reliable authorities on the tactics employed by the Germans in the present campagn. bombing aircraft takes the place of the artillery barrage, with which an attack on an enemy position in the last war was generally opened. The assault is delivered by dive and light bombers, flying low, dropping bombs and using machine-guns against troops on roads. Immediately after them comes the advance of a terrific concentration on a narrow front of heavy and light tanks, the former leading in a solid phalanx. In some cases parchutists have been dropped simultaneously with the tank attack close behind the defending lines, to use machineguns against defenders from the rear. Light Tanks Pushed Out After the first advance, the heavy tanks, because of their slower speed and greater petrol consumption, tend to drop behind, and light tanks are pushed out as screens or for reconnaissance work, advancing sometimes as fast and as far as possible, but waiting for the support of heavy tanks where much opposition is encountered. The light tanks are followed by motorised forces intended to hold positions secured by the tanks. They again are followed by infantry divisions. In the first attack very close contact is maintained between the tanks forces and aircraft. In the subsequent attack, contact is less immediate, but tanks, when held up by anti-tank defences, do not attempt to push the attack, but signal by wireless for the dive bombers again to clear the w r ay for them. Weakness and Strength As far as the theory of this mode of attack is concerned, military commentators point out that, owing to the character of the advance, islands of unbroken troops are likely to be left in the rear of the tank forces and may be able to hold up motorised infantry or infantry divisions. The further the tank advance is pushed, involving greater petrol difficulties and exhaustion of the personnel, the more hazardous does it become. It is indeed, very clear that this form of warfare has its weaknesses as 'well as its strength. For example, there are bound to be spaces and intervals between the tanks and the motorised divisions and between the latter and the infantry, which intervals give an opportunity for counter-attack. More Experience Before Judgment Another point is that the class of aeroplanes used in these tactics would appear to be peculiarly vulnerable to attack by fighters. It is necessary to have a great deal more experience of these methods than is provided by the first surprise success secured by the Germans against the Allies before judging how far they will contribute to ultimate victory, or how far they will exhaust the staying power of the forces using them in securing gains which may be less than decisive.