AIR STRATEGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23770, 25 September 1940, Page 9

AIR STRATEGY

NEW DEVELOPMENTS NAZIS' CHANGING PLANS BRITISH COUNTER BLOWS (Received September 24, 6.30 p.m.) British Wireless _ LONDON, Sept. 23 Air-Marshal Sir Philip Jouberfc, in a broadcast to the United States, discussed the changes of policy forced on the German Luftwaffe and also the attacks by the Royal Air Force on objectives in enemy-

occupied countries. "Pearly in August, the Luftwaffe attempted to invade this country in daylight," Sir Philip said, "and, by sheer force of numbers, beat down our defences. That effort cost them dear. The enemy then sent over individual bombers, using also covers, to attack vital objectives. The loss of many of these lone raiders made him change again.

"His third scheme was to send occasional strong forces to bomb our airfields and communications. One of these attacks lost 20 per cent of its numbers. Then he tried escorting small numbers of bombers with powerful fighter forces to get through to our vital points. In this fighting our losses became heavier, but we still took a greater toll of the German air force, in particular its fighters. Night Bombing Tactics "And so ITitler comes to night bombing—a form of attack hard to parry. There is, however, one distinctly hopeful sign. We are beginning to take a reasonable toll of these night birds. "We are getting on well with night interception. I hope to see, during the next few weeks, the figures steadily mounting until the proportion of German casualties by night approaches that by day. "In night fighting, once the casualties become severe, the moral effect is larger than by day. Setting off together in large formations in daylight, bombers and fighters give each other courage. At night the single pilot and his crew have no outside source from which to draw additional stores of courage." Royal Air Force Offensive Turning to the Royal Air Force offensive, Air-Marshal Joubert emphasised the physical disadvantages suffered owing to the fact that, whereas the German bomber force had only a short 20 minutes' flight to reach England, .■Royal Air Force bombers must fly four or five times that distance to reach Germany.

"Naturally we do not wish to bomb targets in France," Air-Marshal Joubert continued, "but certain of these we have to attack, such as the Channel ports, and the fields on which the German air force is disposed. "Against these we can develop the full effect of our bombers' strength, but we are reluctant to carry the war any further into France, even into the occupied portion of the country. Raids on Germany

"We would much sooner be hitting the Germans in Germany aijd it is this we shall go on doing. Berlin, Stettin, Leipzig, Bremen, Hamburg—all these towns regularly feel the weight of our bomber attacks, and, even if we have to make a long and hard journey to get at them, the effort is worth while. "This is not retaliation. No soldier, seaman or airman believes in retaliation by it-self. The only way to bring the enemy down is to hit those things which contribute to the maintenance and development of his armed forces. Our inflexible aim is to pursue this course."

NOISE OF -AIR WAR EAR PLUGS TO BE ISSUED LONDON, Sept. 23 The Ministry of Home Security is manufacturing millions of car plugp for distribution to local authorities which nre arranging a general issue. Similar steps are being taken with gas masks. UNITED STATES CRUISER OVERHAUL AT SINGAPORE (Received September 24, 7.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 Mr. Cordell Hull said he had no confirmation officially of reports that the United States cruiser Augusta might go to Singapore for overhaul. Ho added that if it was true it was a common custom and courtesy among nations to permit a vessel to enter tho nearest dry dock if repairs were urgently required. Other quarters, however, suggested that the dry-docking of the Augusta at Singapore might have tremendous repercussions, since it would bo the first official use of Singapore for servicing an American warship.