Evening star., 1940-09-23
By MAI. ALEXANDER p.
DE SEVERSKY.

DL OF ~ bRoh1s
NEW YORK, Sept. 23.-It is gen.
orally considered that the approach
OF autumn and winter weather will
give Britain decided advantage
in the epochal aerial battle of Eng
land.
The expectation Of relief due to
the coming fogs, sleet, rain and cold
is justified. The several spells of
bad weather in the past weeks have
given the British Isles a measure
of respite from the terrific Nazi
assaults.
The danger of letting nature take
care of the situation should not be
overlooked. 1t should be remem-
bered that it was wishful thinking
which in the past evoked mirages
of internal revolution in Germany,
paralysis of the Nazi war machine
through exhaustion OF gasoline, COL
lapse through hunger.
Now the same wishful thinking
makes England practically immune
to enemy bombing during the win
ter.
Science is pushing its conquest
OF nature, perhaps more rapidly in
the field of aeronautics than else
where. Even fog and sleet are no
longer insuperable barriers to flight,
as attested by the remarkable ac-
curacy and safety with which our
own American airlines now navigate
in winter weather without glimpse
of the earth.
Blind Flying" Expected.
We must assume that blind fly
ing" - radio navigation - will be
brought extensively into play as soon
as weather conditions demand it.
There can be little doubt that both
sides are now experimenting with
navigation by instrument. testing
every variety of fight by directional
beam and by directional reception
in preparation for the winter
months.
In one essential respect the Brit
ish will have wide margin OF ad-
vantage. Meteorological statistics
show that Germany. and the conti-
nent generally, have more clear days
in the autumn winter months than
England.
This means that there will be
many days when the British airmen
can take of in the shielding obscu-
rity of fogs at home, drop their load
of bombs on visible targets, and
return to the home ports.
Moreover, British naval and mer-
chant ships will be able to slip IN
and out of the English harbors with
infinitely less risk of attack from the
skies.
Weather as such, therefore, tavors
the British.
Nazis Would Have Advantage.
But if bombing by radio naviga-
ton comes into play. the Germans
decidedly will have the upper hand.
AS long as both sides confined
themselves to bombing strictly mill
tary targets. because OF the small
ness of their area, bombing bv
radio navigation through the over
cast was impractical.
In view OF the present tendency
toward indiscriminate bombing of
large. sprawling areas like London
and Berlin. the possibility of area
bombing from above the overcast,
aided by radio navigation, may be-
come a reality,
For purely geometrical reasons. the
Germans will be able to navigate
with far greater precision and will
be able 10 cover their targets with
more certainty.
The Germans. unfortunately for
their enemy. will enjoy this supe-
riority by the mere fact that their
air bases and radio stations are
nearer to their targets. In radio
navigation, accuracy is in inverse
geometrical ratio TO the distance.
In blind bombing Of the French
coasts the ROYAL Air Force would
be no worse of than their enemies
in relation TO London and other
English cities.
Tremendous Handicaps.
But In attempting blind aerial at
tacks on Berlin and other cities in
side Germany. the British will be
working under tremendous handi-
caps.
The distance between English
bases and Berlin is roughly eight
= -