AIR OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 6

AIR OFFENSIVE

RISING SEVERITY CHURCHILL SPEAKS GENERAL WAR REVIEW CONFIDENCE UNSHAKEN By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Reed 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. _ >, J "The air offensive constitutes the foundation on which our plans for an oversea invasion stand," Mr. Churchill told the House of Commons to-day, when he was greeted with tremendous cheers on rising to give his first war review in the House since September. 'The scale and degree of our attacks will reach far beyond the dimensions of anything that has yet been employed or indeed imagined.

"The idea that we should fetter or further restrict the use of this prime instrument for shortening the war," he added, "will not be accepted by the Allied Governments. |We intend to make war production impossible in all German cities, towns and factory centres." 48,700 R.A.F. Fliers Lost Mr. Churchill said the air attack on Germany must be regarded as the chief offensive effort of Britain and America at present. The spring and summer would see a vast increase in the force of the attacks directed against all'military targets in Germany and the occupied countries and long-range bombing from Italy would penetrate effectively to southern parts of Germany. "We look," he continued, "for very great restriction and dislocation of the entire German munitions supply, no matter how far the factories have been Withdrawn." Mr. Churchill revealed that, excluding Dominion and Allied squadrons working with the R.A.F., Britain had lost 38,300 pilots and members of air crews killed and 10,400 missing, and more than 10,000 planes since the war began. Nearly 900,000 sorties had been made by the R.A.F. in the northern European theatre. British share In Great Events "It must be borne in mind in surveying the general foundation of the scene, as we see it to-day, that as the Germans retreat to the west they will find many opportunities for narrowing their fronts," said Mr. Churchill. "If they choose to cut their losses in the Balkans or in Italy, a considerable number of divisions can also be made available to strengthen their central reserve. "It is far from my wish to make any boastful statement about the part Britain is playing in the war. The interests of our alliance as a whole, however, may be prejudiced if its other members are left in ignorance of the British share in the great events which are unfolding. (Cheers.) The Dominions, also, have the right to know that the Mother Country is'playing its part. J think it, therefore, my duty to state a few facts which, perhaps, are not generally realised. „"For instance, since the beginning of 1943 to the present the Royal Navy and R.A.F. have sunk more than half of the U-boats of which we have certain proof of destruction. They have also destroyed 40 per cent of the very large number of other U-boats, of which there is definite evidence of destruction.

/'Again, on the naval side, apart from TT-boats. we hare sunk by British action alone in the same period 19 enemy warships and a large number of E-boats, escort vessels, minesweepers, and other auxiliaries. British action in this period was predominantly responsible for sinking 315 merchantmen, aggregating 835,000 tons. Sea, Air and Land Losses

"In the same period, 7677 officers and men of the Royal Navy and about 4200 merchant navy officers and men lost their lives in British ships._ The proportion of merchant seamen hailing from Britain who have been lost at sea since the beginning of the war has been about one-fifth of the average number engaged in this service. "The total of Royal Navy officers and men killed in the war is just over "30 per cent of the Navy's pre-war strength, the figures being 41,000 of a total strength of 133,000 at the outbreak of war.

"Since the beginning of 1943, we have lost in action or had seriously disabled 95 warships." "Turning to the air, the honour of bombing Berlin has fallen almost entirely to us, and to the present we have delivered the main attack against Germany," Mr. Churchill continued. "Excluding Dominion and Allied squadrons working with it, the R.A.F. has lost since the outbreak 38.300 pilots and air crews killed, and 10,400 m\ssing. "We have also lost more than 10.000 planes, and have made nearly 900,000 sorties in the north European theatres. "As for the Army, the British Army was little more than a police force in 1939, yet it has fought in every part of the world. History will record how much the contribution of our soldiers has been beyond all proportion to the available manpower of these islands. .(Cheers.)

Great Air Forces "The Anglo-American air attack against Germany must be regarded as our chief offensive effort at present. Until the middle of 1943 we had by far the largest force in action, but the United States bomber force in Britain now begins to surpass ours, and soon ■will be substantially greater still. XCheers.l "The efforts of the two forces fit- well together, and according to all past standards each effort is in itself prodigious. Tiie four great Anglo-American raids during the 48 hours beginning at 3 a.m. Sunday, for example, drove home in most effective manner our air superiority over the enemy. "Taken together, these four raids, in which more than 9000 tons of bombs were dropped, constituted the mostviolent attack yet made against Germany. They also proved the value of saturation in every aspect of air war. That aspect will steadily increase as our forces develop and as the American force comes into its full scope. "This spring and summer will see a vast increase in the force of the attack directed against all military objectives in Germany and German-occupied countries. Long-range bombing from Italy will penetrate the south of Germany, We look for great restriction and dislocation of the entire German munitions supply, no matter how far the factories arc withdrawn. "In addition, the precision of the American daylight attacks is giving exresults against particular points. The proper course for German civilians and non-combatants to take is to quit centres of munitions production and take refuge in the countryside. "The enemy's retaliation so* far has been modest, but we must expect an increase. Hitler has a. great need to exaggerate his counter-attacks in order to placate his formerly deluded population.

Rockets Possible

"Besides these air attacks there is no doubt that the Germans are proparing on the French shore new means of attack against Britain, either by pilotless aircraft or possibly by rockets, or both, on a considerable scale. Wo have long been watching these with the utmost vigilance and striking against all evidence of these preparations to the maximum extent possible. "An elaborate scheme of bombing prioritie* in accordance with directions

from the Combined Chiefs-of-Staffs in Washington has governed our action for some time past. It is continually kept up-to-date in relation to our strategic schemes and aims, and it is always flexible enough to allow us to turn aside for some particular objective; for instance, Sofia, capital of hated Bulgaria. "The use of air power also affects the general war situation by the toll it takes of the enemy's lighter aircraft, especially bv the Americans in daytime. Wo already have seen the German air programme concentrate mainly on fighters, indicating how much they have been thrown on the defensive in the air.

"This new German fighter strength is now being remorselessly worn down both in the air and in "the factories, which are the object of continual attack. Every opportunity is. and will be, sought to force the enemy to expend and exhaust his fighter strength. Air Superiority "Our production of aircraft, judged by every possible test, already farexceeds that of the Germans, liussian production about equals ours, and American production alone is double or treble, that of the Germans. What Germany's experience will be when her lighter defence is almost completely eliminated and our aircraft can go all over the country day and night with nothing to fear but anti-aircraft fire has yet to be seen.

"The same is true of Japan's air power, which is also being overmatched and worn down, while her production is incomparably small compared with that of the Allies.

"On former occasions when 1 have addressed the House and tried to give a general picture of the war, I have always set the war against the U-boats in tiie forefront. 1 deliberately now give primacy to the great developments in air power. This was the weapon both the marauding States selected as the main tool of conquest. This was their sphere, in which they were to triumph. 1 shall not moralise further than to say that there is a strange, stern justice in the long swing of events. (Cheers.) Fighting in Italy "Ma ny people have been disappointed with the Allied progress in Italy since the capture of .Naples. This has been due to the weather, which was worse in 19-14 than usual, but far more because the Germans, bit by bit, have been drawn into Italy and have decided to nuike extreme exertions for the retention of Rome. "We therefore were committed to a frontal advance in extremely mountainous country, which gave the defence every advantage. In addition to these difficulties, it has been necessary to build up large supplies of nil kinds. The strategic air force which is being developed for attack against Southern Germany .also has made extremely large priority inroads on our transportation. Immense work has been done, the results of which will be apparent later. "Among the Allies we have much the larger army in ttalv. The American air force in the Mediterranean, on the other hand, is larger than the British. The two together possess enormous superiority over the enemy. We also have complete command of the sea. where an American squadron is actively working with the British Fleet. "Plans for a large amphibious turning movement, on the western coast of It-aly were approved in the first week in January. It was certainly no light matter to launch this large army of 40,000 to 50.000 men. with all the uncertainties of winter weather and the unknown strength of the enemy's fortifications. The operation itself was a model of combined working. The landing was virtually unopposed, but subsequent events did not take the course which was hoped or planned. Bitterest Fighting

"The German reactions to this descent- have been remarkable. Hitler apparently resolved to defend Rojne with the same obstinacy he showed'at Stalingrad, in Tunisia and more recently in the Dnieper bend. No fewer than seven extra German divisions were rapidly brought down from France. Northern Italy and Yugoslavia, and a determined attempt ha 9 been made to destroy our bridgehead and drive us into the sea. The enemy so far has sustained very heavy losses, but has not shaken our resistance.

"General Alexander, who has probably seen more fighting against the Germans than any living British commander. unless it be General Freyberg. who is also in the fray, says that the bitterness and fierceness of the fighting now going on, both on the bridgehead and Cassino fronts, surpasses all his previous experience.

"The Allied leaders in Italy are confident of final success. On broad grounds of strategy Hitler's decision to send as many as IS divisions into Southern Italy and make a large secondary front there is not unwelcome to the Allies. We must fight the Germans somewhere in this war unless we are to stand still and watch the Russians.

"This wearing battle in Italy occupies troops which cannot be employed on other greater operations, and is an effective prelude to them. Wo have sufficient forces at our disposal in Africa to nourish the struggle in Italy. "At this date last year 1 was deeply anxious about the situation in Tunisia. 1 placed my confidence in General Alexander and the British and American troops engaged in the battle, and that is how I feel ahout it now. Britain and America have full confidence in General Sir Henry Maitland-Wilson and General Alexander and their subordinate officers. Invasion Armies "As to certain unofficial statements made in America about the relative strength of the armies to be «m ployed here, I think it necessary to state that the British and American armies at the outset, of the struggle will be approximately equal, but, if the duration is prolonged. the continuous inflow of Americans at an enormous rate will naturally give them the numerical superiority to be expected from their- great resources. "Tt is, therefore, right that the Supreme Command in the west should go to America." Mr. Churchill emphasised the complete co-operation between the British and American armies. Nothing like this had been seen hitherto among the Allies. Our common language was a great help, but there was something more than that. Dealing with the European political scene, Mr. Churchill said: "Wo should judge all parties and factions dispassionately by the test of their readiness and ability to fight the Germans and lighten the burdens of the Allied troops. This is no time for ideological preferences. "Nearly 100 Italian ships of war are operating in the Mediterranean. Italian troops and airmen are fighting alongside our men. while behind the lines large numbers of Italians arc rendering indispensable services." Italy and the Balkans Mr. Churchill said that the hat tie for Italy would be hard and long, and lie was not yet convinced that any other Government could be formed which would command the same obedience from the people. When Rome fell, however, the whole Italian situation would be reviewed. "What we have agreed with the United States is to win the battle for Rome and to take a new view when we are there," he added. Dealing with the position in the Balkans, Mr. Churchill said that the Partisan forces in Yugoslavia held the tipper hand. German losses had been heavy. Marshal Broz Tito had more than 250,000 men and large quantities ot arms. He was holding; at least 14 German divisions out of 20 in the Balkans Peninsula. "For a long time past," Mr. Churchill said, "1 have taken particular interest in Marshal Tito's movements, and am trying by every means to bring him •help. King Peter of Yugoslavia has found in this country, and we cannot dissociate ourselves in any way

I from him. We follow the principle of ' keeping good faith with those who have kept good faith with us, and trying without prejudice or regard for political affections to aid those who strike lor freedom against the Nazi rule, and thus inflict the greatest injury on the enemy _ "The saddest case is that or Greece, Mr Churchill continued. "The German invaders watched with contemptuous complacency Greeks killing Greeks with ammunition sent them to kill Germans. The great mass of the people await with fortitude and longing the hour of liberation. As far us wo arc concerned♦ they shall not wait in vain."

Referring to the Teheran Conference, he said that personal contacts had been established which he was convinced would prove helpful to the common cause. He trusted it would be possible to hold further meetings, but he had no definite suggestions to make. "None of the ground made good at .Moscow and Teheran has been lost," said Mr. Churchill. "The three great .Allies are equally resolved to pursue the war at whatever cost to a victorious conclusion, and 1 believe a wide field of friendly co-operation lies before theiu after the destruction of Hitlerite tyranny. Upon such prolonged, intimate and honourable association the future world depends."

The fate of Poland held a. prime place in the thoughts and policy of the British Government. He had heard from Marshal Stalin with pleasure that he. too, iiad resolved on the creation and maintenance of a strong, integral, and independent Poland as one of the leading Powers. That declaration had been repeated several times, and Mr. Churchill was convinced that it represented the settled policy of the Soviet Union.

With the Foreign Secretary, Mr. ICden, he had laboured during the past few weeks with the Polish Government to establish a working arrangement upon which the fighting forces could act and an increasing structure of goodwill and comradeship could be built between Russia and Poland. Russian Standpoint

"The advance of the Russian armies into Polish regions in which the Polish underground army is. active makes it indispensable that some kind of working agreement should be reached to govern wartime, conditions," he said. "1 have intense sympathy for the Poles, but also with the' Russian standpoint. "1 cannot feel that the Russian demand for reassurance about her western frontiers goes beyond the limits of what is reasonable and just," Mr. Churchill added that he might make a further statement later on the Polish situation.

"Unconditional surrender does not mean that the German people will be enslaved and destroyed," said Mr. Churchill. "It means that the Allies will not be bound at the moment of surrender by any pact or obligation, and that the victors will have a free hand, but it does not mean that they will be entitled to behave in a barbarous manner."

After appealing for party unity, the Prime Minister concluded: "We are in the advent of the greatest operations the Allies have ever undertaken. Our task will be heavy, our toil long, and our trial severe. Let us try our best to do our duty. Victory may not he so far away, and certainly it will not be denied us in the end."

Mr. Churchill spoke for 78 minutes