Evening star., 1940-10-27
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

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tinues; and it is we'll to keep in
mind that whatever happens in the
Mediterranean or the Far East this
is the central and the crucial thea
ter of war while the Island of
Great Britain remains in the hands
of its own people and while that
people retains its ability to operate
| naval and air forces from their
island.
The Atlantic approaches to Ger
many and all Northern Europe are
closed to the Nazis and the pres
sure of blockade continues exter-
nally, while internally the British
planes continue to assail German
industry, and communications. Civ
en- the increasing ratio of British
plane strength to German plane
strength, plus the obvious British
advantages in technique, and we
have here situation which grows
more favorable to the British cause
with the passage Of time.
But If Britain is lost by invasion
or surrender under the ceaseless
hail of bombs, then the Germans
have free access to the Atlantic,
the last stronghold of freedom in
Europe is gone and the United States
Is faced with the task Of Defend
ing herself and such Of the do
minions as she can defend against
a victorious Germany in possess
sion of vastly increased industrial
resources. 1t might be possible to
recoup losses elsewhere. 1t would
hardly be possible to recoup the
loss of Britain; at any rate the
task would be a tremendous one
and of uncertain outcome.
Hence the exact military situa-
ton of the Island Of Great Britain
is of immense Importance, not only
intrinsically, but because both to
British and American strategy it so
theaters of possible or actual opera
tions. If Britain is insecure it is
hardly possible for strong British
reinforcements to be detached to the
Mediterranean; if Britain is inse-
cure it is question Of the utmost
gravity as to whether We can AZ
ford to become deeply involved in
the Far East. But II Britain Is
likely to hold fast, a much greater
degree of freedom Of action is auto
matically conferred upon such spare
British forces as may be available,
and upon us within such theaters
as are proper to us and within which
we have vital interests.
Sea Confers Advantages.
The stage of this struggle is world
wide. It is total war, waged with
economic and political as we'll as
military weapons. In such warfare,
the command of the sea confers
upon its possessors advantages, ad-
vantages which can only be fully
exploited If there Is no immediate
risk to the central positions which
serve as bases and points of con-
troll; and Of these central positions,
the one most Immediately threat
ened is Great Britain.
What, then, is the state of that
threat? How does it compare with
the means available to meet it?
Great Britain is an island, must be
approached over waters commanded
by the British fleet. It can also be
reached by German aircraft. But it
cannot be reached by German troops
unless its sea defenses and its air
defenses can first be overcome, or
unless some form Of surprise can be
effected.
Setting aside the surprise possi-
bility. it would appear that invasion
has been rendered hopeless, for the
present, by the success of the Royal
Air Force in maintaining its defen-
sive power in being while also keep
ing up its offensive operations
against Germany. The German air
attacks on Great Britain, considered
from the invasion viewpoint, may
be regarded as a sort of fire of
preparation, like the artillery bonn
bardments of the World War; whose
task was to beat down the fire Of
the opposing batteries, destroy the
enemy defensive works, drive his in
fantry to advance.
So considered, the German air
attacks have definitely proved
| failure.
Invasion Path Not Prepared.
They have inflicted great damage
to property; they have caused many
thousands of casualties; but they
have not seriously impaired Britain's S
war industries. nor done serious
damage to military objectives and
defensive preparations, nor have
they 80 far had any appreciable
effect on the morale of the British
nation as . whole. Above all, they
have not reduced the fighting EN-
cheney Of the Royal Air Force; that
efficiency has on the whole increased