WAR BALANCE SHEET

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21409, 1 May 1941, Page 6

WAR BALANCE SHEET

Perhaps because the public mind has not yet found the correct focus with which to view the war in its more modem branches, too much significance Is probably being attached to the activities of the land armies and not enough to the struggle on the sea and particularly in the air. So intensive has air activity become that in some cases foot soldiers have to perform what amounts to “mopping up.” This is not to say that the land army is still not the ‘ main body of a nation’s fighting power but only to illustrate that other services now play a very important role in war. When the present struggle is viewed from that point of view, how much have the Allies conceded to the Axis? Most outstanding is the almost complete victory against enemy surface craft at sea. The Axis can move at sea only furtively, under cover and always at imminent risk Enemy merchant ships have been so reduced that generally Axis movements come to a standstill when the sea is reached. Recently the British Navy has been pushing the offensive against enemy shipping with renewed vigour and has been taking a terrible toll. In this work the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force have been co-operat-ing very effectively, and the enemy’s already scanty shipping resources have been reduced to a very parlous condition. On the sea the British Navy can claim an outstanding victory, even though it still has the task of protecting the Allied merchant marine from the depredations of submarines. - In the air also Britain has not left the initiative to the enemy. In the aerial battle that was intended to decide the fate of Britain the Royal Air Force gained a resounding victory. Certainly the enemy has caused havoc with constant night bombing in England, but Britain has replied emphatically in Germany and German-occupied territory. Damage to German war industries and communications has also been terrific. That constant drain upon the enemy’s resources will be continued and greatly intensified. The Royal Air Force is beginning to feel its growing strength. Another victory that car be claimed is that against Italy in the air. Until Germany came to their assistance Italian aircraft had almost disappeared from the theatres of war in the Middle East. Germany has temporarily helped to restore the balance, but will have to meet a rapid expansion in Britain aerial striking power. All these factors must be taken into consideration when an attempt Is made to strike a balance over the whole wai -