Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-02
Slow BIitzkriea

CataStrOpn1eS often develop SLOW
ly," says the Frankfurter Zeitung,
prominent member of the controlled
German press, in explanation of the
delay of the Nazi military machine
in achieving its supreme objective,
the invasion of Britain. The tone of
other editorial comment in Germany
regarding the first anniversary Of
the second World War was almost
apologize, dispatches from Berlin
indicate. Apologies are, indeed, due
the rank and file Of the German
people, in view of the predictions of
Fuehrer Hitler and his staff that
they would be in Piccadilly by the
middle of August. But August has
come and gone and September, a
month which usually marks the adj
vent Of stormy weather in England,
is here-and the tight little British
Isles are still as tight as ever, from
all that can be learned this far away
from the scene Of battle. The stub
born English refuse to be "softened,"
despite several weeks 81 intense
bombardment designed to effect
such softening In preparation for
actual invasion.
To make matters more annoying
for the propagandists in Germany,
whose job it is to keep German mo-
rale soaring and to shatter the spirit
of the enemy, the Royal Air Force
somehow finds time to strike back
at Berlin and other German targets,
and even to make daring forays over
the Alps into Italy. British commu-
niques do not have a monopoly of
the news regarding effectiveness Of
these retaliatory raids; the Nazi COM
muniques have been conceding that
some of the British bombs are find
ing their marks and that most Of the
British planes have escaped molesta-
tion-due, the apologists suggest-to
Notwithstanding paint which makes
them invisible in a searchlight beam.
The German flights over England,
on the other hand, have been costly
with regard to men and machines.
British officials and neutral observ-
ers claim that an average Of four
Nazi planes have been lost to every
British plane destroyed during the
bombing raids on England during
the past month, when the air war
reached new peaks of ferocity. The
Germans claim it is the other way
around. But, in judging the &C
curacy of the respective claims, 1t
must be remembered that when one
of Marshal Goering's planes is shot
down over British soil, it becomes a
total loss to the Germans, whether it
is destroyed or not, and the crew, if
not killed, are captured. British
planes often are salvaged and re-
stored to active service after they
crash, and their pilots frequently bail
out and go right up again in another
ship. The Royal Air Force in this
respect holds distinct advantage in
these dogfghts over Britain, despite
the numerical superiority of its ad-
versaries.
But England's greatest potential
allies now are time and weather. AS
the days and weeks pass with Britain
still unconquered, the time remain
ing for launching of an invasion
effort under favorable conditions Of
atmosphere and tide grows ever
shorter. Late September is almost
sure to bring storms and fogs and
tumultuous seas about the British
Isles, to hamper If not defeat an at
tempted landing of troops by air or
sea. The propitious hour to strike,
considering the Importance of wealth.
er and sea factors, is right now. The
catastrophe which Hitler's press
warns is to befall Britain has been
long time developing. And there
is possibility that If its develop
ment is delayed much longer, 1t may
boomerang on its creators. Every
postponement strengthens British
resistance and increases the odds
against a successful invasion Of the
embattled isles across the Channel
from Nazi-conquered Europe.