LIGHTNING WAR NOT NEW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 19 August 1939, Page 6

LIGHTNING WAR NOT NEW

REVIVAL OF A FALLACY What is this theory of the lightning war—the -Blitzkrieg"? asks Mr J. U Garvin. It is, he answers, no new magic, but a revival of the very fallacy which ied to immeasurable disaster before What was the Schlteffen Plan of August, 1914 but the theory of a “Blitzkrieg” on the lightiest scale. Elaborated through twenty years—revised again and again lor supposed surety—it was devised to crush France in six weeks; but the sequel was failure in six weeks Similarly, the unlimited submarine campaign was a gamble on swift success; but it only brought the United States into the struggle. In the long tale of human fallibility, these are terrible illustrations. It doe 6 not end there. The dissolution of the British Empire was vividly expected by the Pan-Germans before 1914 They were met by its world-wide rally in arms, a marvel unmatched of its kind in political history The theory of “British degeneracy" was rife in the Hoheni zollern Reich It is more stupid now than then We do .iot under-estimate in any way cither the Fuehrer and the German people, or II Duce and the Italian people. We are not so foolish. But we have shown reason why they should beware of the systematic disparagement of Britain and her folk.