CLIMAX OF WAR

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21202, 27 August 1940, Page 5

CLIMAX OF WAR

HITLER GETTING DESPERATE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING WARNING TO CIVILIANS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 26 Heavier civilian casualties in Britain, with enemy bombing becoming more and more indiscriminate, are foreseen by the British Broadcasting Corporation’s air observer, Mr Oliver Stewart. Mr Stewart, in a broadcast today, said the climax of the air war was now approaching. The third phase of the war was the renewal of activity on Saturday, with the Germans attacking more desperately and wildty than ever before. At this stage the Germans could not hold back. They must strive to achieve some practical return for the enormous expenditure of men and machines. The Royal Air Force had to stand ready at every point ot Britain’s coastline. More and heavier attacks had to be expected. The enemy so far, Mr Stewart continued, seemed to have tried to hit military objectives. But on Saturday there had been a chancre, with more indiscriminate destruction. It was the best sign Britain had. Win War in End Although what was to come would be terrible for the civilian popula- v tion, and towns and villages would be laid waste, wild bombing would not be so effective against military objectives, which would win the war in the end. He was confident the civilian population would be able to stand up to its ordeal. On the other hand, indiscriminate bombing would enable more enemy aircraft to escape the British fighters. Wild bombing was the first sign of collapse. The enemy, it was true, had not yet brought into use their heavier bombing fleet, but with the introduction of new tynes of machines, the limits of British bombing power had not been seen. Brttain was getting more and faster fighting aircraft. Mr Stewart said Germany, too, had new tvpes of machines in nreparation. But in the case of the Germans, high technical duality was the enemy of standardisation, upon which they had depended so much up to the present. If they wanted quality they would have to sacrifice numbers.

Never in Finer Spirit The speaker warned people not to be too ontimistic; it was better to look on the dark side. At the same time, the Royal Air Force was never in finer spirit. The way its pilots rushed into attack was inspiring. One Royal Air Force commanding officer said to him yesterday: “They go in so close that their airscrews almost cut the tails off their opponents’ machines.”