AIR-POWER NECESSARY

Southland Times, Issue 24755, 28 May 1942, Page 5

AIR-POWER NECESSARY

SEA OPERATIONS (Rec. 6.30 pan.) LONDON, May 26. “The time has come when we have forces to meet the enemy in the Mediterranean on terms of equality,” said Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, formerly commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean. “I have every confidence that if we have learned the lessons of 1940, 1941 and 1942 we will rapidly and surely overwhelm him. “Until now we have lacked the very essentials of victory. If in the circumstances of the past men could achieve so much, what will they not be able to do when at length they have the means? “We must learn the lesson that sufficient trained air forces are an indispensable part of sea-power. The navy can never have complete mastery of its own element unless it controls all the tactical instruments requisite for action at sea.

“The passage of the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau through the Channel suggests that however good the liaison between the Coastal Command of the Royal Air Force and the Navy, there may be room for improvement. If the services could be integrated the problem would be solved.

“We have already lost a formidable fleet in Far Eastern waters, chiefly due to dive-bombers and torpedo-carriers. British ships appear to succumb more easily to this form of attack than the enemy and the question arises whether the enemy ships are better armoured than ours or the British torpedoes are less powerful. There is an urgent need to provide the Fleet Air Arm with better torpedo-carrying machines. Divebombers are excellent and most dangerous weapons, but they have not much range. There are other methods of destroying a fleet.” Sir Andrew said he did not believe the French Fleet at Toulon would fall into German hands.