The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-15
War
Interpretive
Ry KIRKE l.. SIMPSON

Tremendous stimulation of British
public morale has resulted from
Greek and British victories over
Italian forces in the east.
There are other factors, however,
than the smashing blows struck at
Italv to account for British conf
dence in the ultimate outcome of
the war. The full fury of Hitler's
boasted air power has been tested
and proved ineffective to end the
war quickly in a British defeat.
Prime Minister Churchill told his
people six months ago, when France
fell, that the crux of the war lay
in Britain's power to "break Hitler's
air weapon" 1t has not been broken;
but it's edge has been dulled. It has
failed to crack British morale. failed
to open the way for Nazi invasion
of England; failed as yet to bring
a real starvation specter before Eng
lish eyes in the war at sea.
English skies still are dominated
in daylight by Britain's fighter pilots.
Only at night do the heavy blows
fall which Hitler said would lay
England in ruins. Within six months
the German attack has been defect
ed from England's weakest flank,
the air, to her strongest, the see
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holds the greatest menace to Brit
ain.
British hopes of attaining victory
years sooner than her leaders had
reckoned possible six months 'ago
are clearly indicated. The late Lord
Lothian, ambassador to Washington.
in his last message urging expedited
American help, foresaw possibilities
of smashing Germany next year or
in 1912. He did not live to learn
the full-scope of italian disasters
on two far fronts.
There is double mystery in this
war. It involves both German and
italian air power, the prime element
on which the Axis mates relied in
challenging British sea power.
Italy's boosted air force signally
failed her in Greece, Albania and
Egypt. Just why is known only in
Italy. If London knew, It might
have the final answer to the wars
outcome.
Germany has not only failed to
crush England through the air, but
also to reach the crescendo of air
attack her air superiority seemed
to make possible. Jusy why Nazi
BORDERS have not come over Eng
land in thousands night after night
instead of hundreds and why there
are lapses between mass attacks is
known only in Germany.
Weeks ago. Churchill told parlia-
ment that approximately 500 planes
within a 24-hour period had been the
maximum German attack but might
be only a fraction of what would
be attained. 1t has not since been
cACccucu, even ny DclIHl wal az
counting.
London recently knew two full
days and nights of bombing sur
cease in the wake of a great mass
night attack. Other English cities
had like experiences. They have come
to expect a day or so of breathing
spell after each air blow.
There is obviously some supply
or transportation bottle-neck limit
ing full employment of both italian
and German air power. 1t may be
gasoline, or merely the difficulties
of organization and supply trans
portation. The German air attack
on England is based along 1000
miles of the German-held continental
coastal area of Europe.
A 500-plane daily attack burns up
a huge quantity Of fuel. If Germany
is raiding her war reserve stocks now
to supply it and lack of fuel has
grounded Italian planes much need
ed in Albania and Egypt, Britain's
victory hopes are justified. If it is
not lack of fuel hampering Axis air
power at both ends, what is it?