TO SMASH NAZIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 202, 27 August 1943, Page 5

TO SMASH NAZIS

BOMBING OF ECONOMIC STRUCTURE U.S. COMMANDER REVIEWS AIR FORCES’ FEATS Reed. 7 p.m. .Rugby, Aug. 25. “I believe if the present type of Anglo-American round - the - clock bombing operations can be carried out and continued with a reasonable rise in tempo, the economic structure of Nazi Germany is going to fail by the end of this year,” said Major-General Harold I. George, commanding general of the United States Army Air Transport Command, now visiting i Britain. | “I have been particularly impressed 1 by the recent raids of the Eighth Air 1 Force against Rogensburg and; Schweinfurt. The raids must have • struck terror into the hearts of the Nazi air and higher command, because our planes were able to penetrate against every single thing that could be put up to hamper them. Thirty per cent, of the Nazi day fighter production was washed out in the Regensburg raid on the Messerschmitt factories. It will probably be easier for them to go somewhere else and build another factory than to rebuild at Regensburg. It will take six months to replace a similar organisation, and in that period 2000 fighters could have been built. The destruction of the ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt was also extensive and a severe blow to the Nazis.” Major-General George added: “The fact that the Germans have concentrated more than 60 per cent, of their entire fighter force to protect their cities and towns against air attacks from bases in Britain is an indication that they realise the terrific implications of the bombing operations now being conducted against, Germany.” Explaining his forecast of the failure of the Nazi economic structure, Major-General George said: “By failure I mean they would be unable to continue to function at a degree essential to support a major war. I am making this statement with a reasonable appreciation of the weather and a reasonable knowledge of the buildup of our air forces. To wage war a nation must possess two vital factors -first the will to light and secondly the means with which to fight. The first of these factors is being disintegrated by the magnificently executed operations of the R.A.F. Bomber Command. The second is the objective of the Sth. Air Force Bomber Command. It is obvious that each force complements the other,”— 8.0.W.