Air Power Can Defeat Germany

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1943, Page 3

Air Power Can Defeat Germany

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29. “The High Command has failed to recognise America’s capacity to create destructive air power which might have brought Germany to the dust and defeat months ago,” declared Senator Downey, when giving evidence before the Senate in support of Senator Wheeler's bill delaying the induction of fathers into the forces.

He demanded that the army concentrate on air power instead of drafting fathers to build up a vast land army, most of which never could and never would be used. " General Downey quoted an undeniable authority that Germany is weakening so fast, and our air power is growing so rapidly that efficient use of bombers would reduce the Nazis to quick surrender or terrible destruction. He concluded: “A larger army would be a wasteful burden and a tragic futility.” The correspondent of the “New York Times” (Mr. Drew Middleton) says the Allies are losing an opportunity for knocking Germany out of the war by bombing. “Although the weather conditions have been favourable the Allies made only seven big night raids on German industrial centres in September, compared with 11 in August. The reduced number of big night raids is believed to be the result of diverting bombers to tactical targets of momentary importance and the transfer of bombers and crews to other theatres of war.”