INTENSE BOMBING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24759, 6 December 1943, Page 4

INTENSE BOMBING

PAVING THE WAY

INVASION NEXT SPRING

EXPERT VIEWS ON EFFECTS By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Reed. 9.15 p.m.) NEW YORK. Deo 4 The bombings of German-held Europe have been stepped up to such a degree that next spring s second front attack may mean the occupation of territory already jendered almost, useless to the enemy, according to British and American air authorities in Washington, says the New York Times Washington correspondent. These experts admit that landings may be difficult and costly, but believe that resistance will be the last. gasp, as Germany will already be blockade* and bled to the point of collapse by the bombers. Tliev point out that the current air attacks are almost tantamount to occupation, since the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force control the air over large areas and thus the ground beneath. For example, it was recently announced that 17 principal German industrial centres had been bombed out of commission. This means tliat "17 vertical salients have been driven into the heart of Germany." Gat and Mouse Game Air Marshal Sir William Welsh, head of the H.A.F. delegation in Washington, said that these salients were not only occupied, but were being held in a third dimensional sense. I lie Allied air forces watched them until the Germans bad expended the maximum amount of labour and material upon repair and then again destrojed them. Sometimes this cat and mouse game is preferred to all-out destruction inasmuch as economists calculate that one 2000-ton raid destroys the entire work of 75,000 Germans for a single month, whereas it costs a month's work by 18,500 men to mount an attack, and for that reason the Allies are willing to trade on this basis. Berlin High on List Economists have also discovered that the bombings are causing inflation in Germany by destroying consumer goods and the means of making them, but not purchasing power. This leads to an increased demand for paper money, which the people keep in their pockets in case they have to evacuate their homes. Since the beginning of the summer's heavy attacks German note circulation has jumped to nearly 30.000,000 reichmarks. Air Marshal Welsh explained that Germany was being destroyed on a rigid svstem "of priorities, with Berlin high on the list because of its four aircraft factories. However, the main task of destroying German aircraft factories elsewhere had been left to the United States Air Force. British air circles were not alarmed b\ threats of reprisals, said Air Marshal Welsh, because the Germans "have neither escape nor remedy." JHe pointed out that Britain had developed a capacity for mounting large-scale raids over a period of years, whereas Germany, pinning her faith on a quick war, had delayed too long to be able now to develop a bomber force capable of retaliating on equal terms. ASSURED ASCENDANCY ALLIED FIGHTER STRENGTH .(Eecd. 5.35 p.m.) OTTAWA, Dec. 4 "The Fighter Command authorities are now confident that the Nazis have no hidden reserves of fighters, and that the Allies can plan on a basis of assured ascendancy, which will be maintained," said the Air Minister. Mr C. G. Power. He added that, although there was no reduction in the activity of Allied fighter squadrons over Europe, wastage had dropped far below what was anticipated owing to the reduced German offensive and German reluctance to give battle. "While a steady supply ot tighter pilots will be trained," said Mr. Power, "greater attention will be given to developing bomber crews, entailing a considerable reshuffling of training schools. A substantial number of British instructors and ground crews will be returned from Canada to Britain, where they are urgently needed for the enormous amount of operational work." The Munitions Minister, Mr. C. D. Howe, revealed that there will be a similar switching in the production of weapons. Almost daily a dozen requests were received from war areas asking for alterations and the development of new weapons, he said. The munitions production peak, estimated at slightly more than 3,000.000,000 dollars for 1943, had been reached. CANADIAN AIR LOSSES 10,025 SINCE WAR BEGAN (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) OTTAWA, Dec. 4 "Canadian Air Force casualties since the beginning of the war total 10.025," said the Air Minister, Mr. C._G. Power. "They are made up of 3654 known dead, 3249 presumed dead, 2068 missing, 1039 prisoners of war, and 15 interned in neutral countries." A drastic reduction in recruiting for Royal Canadian Air Force ground crows, of whom Canada has a sufficient number for all Canadian squadrons now formed or to be formed, is announced. In future, ground crews will only be needed for the replacement of casualties or discharges, or those rernustered to air crews. Men for air crews are as greatly needed as ever. CLASPS TO MEDAL COMPLAINTS IN CAIRO LONDON, Dec. 1 Some veterans of the desert wars are complaining about the conditions under which clasps are awarded to the Africa Star, says Renter's Cairo correspondent. They only qualify for the- Star itself, which is also won by permanent base personnel, including women members of the services. The coveted inverted "V" sign on the ribbon can only be worn by those serving with the Eighth and First Armies after the date of El Alamein to the cessation of hostilities in North Africa. The men point out that the conditions rule out those who served in FieldMarshal Lord Wa veil's campaign at Tobruk. General Ritchie's advance ami the battles at the Knight.sbridge Cauldron. but who, hecausc of wounds and sickness, did not take part in General Montgomery's advance. Thousands of British and Dominion troops taken prisoner during Rommel's advance also are excluded. ORE FOR GERMANY STOP TO EXPORTS URGED LONDON. Dec. 4 The Swedish Socialist newspaper Arbetaren demands that all iron ore exports to Germany be stopped as a protest against the Nazis' arrest of Oslo students. Stockholm students are appealing to the public to boycott the concert of the German conductor Furtwangler. which is to be given in Stockholm. A heavy explosion in Copenhagen, Denmark, is believed to be the work of saboteurs who blew up a factory working for the Germans, says the StoekJiolm radio. Germans at Aarhus executed five_ Danes accused of acts of sabotage, including, the blowing up of Iftn important bridge.