Evening star., 1940-08-20

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of damaged machines and the most
provident and speedy use Of all the
spare parts and material.
At the same time the splendid
nay, astounding-increase in the
output and repair of British aircraft
and engines. which Lord Beaver
brook has achieved by genius of
organization and drive which looks
like magic, has given us overfowing
reserves Of every type Of aircraft
and an ever-mounting stream Of
production both in quantity and
quality.
The enemy is, Of course, far more
numerous than we are. But our new
production already largely exceeds
his, and the American production Is
only just beginning to flow in.
Our bomber and fighter strength
after all this fighting is larger than
1t has ever been.
We hope and believe that we shall
be able to continue the struggle in
definitely and as long as the enemy
pleases; and the longer 1t continues
the more rapid will be our approach,
first toward that parity and then
into that superiority in the the air
upon which, in large measure, the
decision Of the war depends.
Expresses Gratitude
To British Airmen.
The gratitude of every home in
our island, in our empire, and in
deed throughout the world, except
in the abodes of the guilty, goes out
to the British airmen who, un-
daunted by odds, unwearied in their
constant challenge and mortal dan
ger. are turning the tide of world
war by their prowess and by their
devotion. Never in the field of hui
man conflict was so much owed by
so many to so few
All hearts go out to the fighter
pilots whose brilliant actions we see
with our own eyes day after day:
but we must never forget that all
the time, night after night, month
after month, our bomber squadrons
travel far into Germany, find their
targets in the darkness by the high
est navigational skill, aim their at
tacks-often under the heaviest fire,
often with heavy losses-with de-
liberate, careful discrimination, and
inflict shattering blows upon the
whole Of the technical and war
making structure of the Nazi power.
On no part of the Royal Air Force
does the weight Of the war fall more
heavily than on the daylight bomb
ers, who will play an invaluable
part in the case Of invasion and
whose unflinching zeal it has been
necessary in the meanwhile, on
numerous occasions, to restrain.
We are able to verify the results
Of bombing military targets in Ger
many, not only by reports which
reach US through many sources, but
also by photograph.
Bombing Of Germany
Seen Road to Victory.
have no hesitation in saying
that this process Of bombing the
military industries and communica- =
tions of Germany. and the air bases
and storage depots from which we
are attacked-and which will con-
tinue upon an ever-increasing scale
| until the end Of the war and may
in another year attain dimensions
hitherto undreamed of-affords one,
at least, Of the surest, if not the
shortest, of all the roads to victory.
Even if the Nazi legions stood tri-
umphant on the Black Sea, or in
deed upon the Caspian: even If
Hitler was at the gates of India, it
would profit him nothing If at the
same time the entire economic and
scientific apparatus of German war
power lay shattered and pulverized
at home.
The fact that the invasion of
this island upon a large scale has
become a far more difficult operation
with every week that has passed
since we saved our army at Dun
kirk, and our very great preponder-
ance Of sea power, enable us to turn
our eyes and to turn our strength
towards the Mediterranean and
against that other enemy who, with
out the slightest provocation, coldly
and deliberately, for greed and gain,
stabbed France in the back in the
moment Of her agony and is now
marching against US in Africa.
Detection Of France
Hurts in Middle East.
The detection Of France has, of
course, been deeply damaging to
our position in what is called, some
what oddly, the Middle East.
In the defense of Somaliland for
instance, we had counted upon
strong French forces attacking the
Italians from Jibuti.
We had counted also upon the
use Of the French naval and air
bases in the Mediterranean. and
particularly upon the North African
shore.
We had counted upon the French
fleet. Even though metropolitan
France was temporarily overrun
there was no reason why the French
Navy, substantial parts of the
French Army, and the French
empire overseas should not have
continued the struggle at our side.
Shielded by overwhelming sea-
power, possessed of invaluable
strategic bases and Of ample funds,
France might have remained one
OF the great combatants in the
struggle.
BY so doing, France would have
preserved the continuity of her life
and the French empire might have
advanced with the British empire
to the rescue of the independence
and integrity of the French mother
land.
Frances ProstratiOn Called
"Crime Of Men Of Vichy."
In our own case, If we had been
put in the terrible position Of France