Spell Of German Invincibility Broken

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1941, Page 5

Spell Of German Invincibility Broken

[British Official Wireless] (Rec. 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 3. The spell of Germany’s invincibility which paralysed more than half the world, had now been finally broken. This opinion was expressed by the Minister for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair), in a fighting speech. The R.A.F.. he said, had been proud to play its part. It was in the van of the battle of the Atlantic, in the outcome of which the Minister expressed confidence. It was the Coastal Command which last year attacked 136 Üboats, shot down over 30 aircraft and scared a great many more off the convoys. Axis Sea Losses Sir Archibald declared : “We are now turning the tables upon the Germans. Their shipping is getting a double dose of the medicine Hitler prescribed for ourselves, and in July we damaged or destroyed 92 Axis ships in the North Sea. Adriatic and Mediterranean, amounting to 468,000 tons, and 52 ships in addition belonging to unknown countries. Sir Achibald added: “Our fighter commad has suffered severe losses but has gained mastery of daylight attacks on Britain. When the Germans broke off their night bombing in May in order to concentrate against Russia their casualties amounted to over 10 per cent, of the attacking forces. The morale of their bomber crews was flagging under the strain.” Will Pay Dearly

“This coming winter we must expect the German attacks to be renewed. We must gird ourselves to endure, If not too sustained attacks, certainly attacks of greater intensity than any yet suffered. “The German bomber crews, on the other hand, will find out that we have not been'wasting time since May and they will pay dearly for the destruction of British homes next winter. The German people will pay more dearly still. “The rate cf our attacks is constantly increasing. In the first three weeks of August more than three times as many bombs were dropped by the Bomber Command than in the corresponding three weeks of 1940. Hit Berlin Hard “There was the splendid attack on Berlin last night. Our bombers got through and hit the city hard. There can be no doubt that the Germans are fully aware that in Mr. Churchill's words, ‘This is only the beginning’.” The Minister concluded : “Our admiration for Russia is unbounded, but Russia will not win the war for us. Our gratitude to the U.S. is unbounded. but the U.S. will not win the war. ‘'Our chief danger is a tendency to relax our efforts when our prospects are good, to think somebody else will make the effort and win the war,

Complacency is our greatest danger. For victory we must rely on ourselves.”