“A NEUTRAL BLOCKADE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 October 1939, Page 5

“A NEUTRAL BLOCKADE”

The "New Statesman” says: “The war in the west is so far little more than a mutual blockade. Whether the Nazi mentality can long maintain a defensive war such as the British and French envisage, we have yet to see. Herr von Ribbentrop’s violent speech may herald a change. Or it may not. Herr Hitler is a cautious and crafty enemy, and his air marshals and generals may not wish to risk a boomerang throw. There is at least a chance of a further period of prudence, of manoeuvres to the accompaniment of mainly economic hostilities.” “Time and Tide" says: “There has been much guessing as to what Herr Hitler’s next move will be. A big offensive in the west would seem out of the question this year. Even now the weather has made military operations almost impossible. It is widely believed that there will be an aerial offensive against the British naval bases, docks and shipping. Such beliefs are purely speculative. So far General Goering's much vaunted air force has not been very impressive, and, unit for unit, it would appear to be much inferior to the R.A.F.

“The general prospect would seem to be that for the rest of 1939 the winterwill be used for intense preparation by Germany, consolidating, and perhaps extending her eastern conquests in the meantime. It does not look as though the war will begin in real earnest till the spring.”